European Union in May 2026: the most important developments in security
In May 2026 the European Union's security agenda was dominated by Russian drones and missiles. On 29 May a Russian drone attack in Romania injured two people and drew outrage from NATO and the EU. Russia claimed there was no evidence of its drones in the EU. Earlier in the month, on 24 May, Russia struck Kyiv with an Oreshnik missile, and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called the attack a terrorist act. Russia then threatened new airstrikes on Kyiv. Von der Leyen, who was due to visit Lithuania over drone incidents, vowed on 26 May to fight drones and disinformation campaigns. NATO held drills near Russia's border, and Latvia's president called for EU support for regions hit by drone incursions.
The EU also worked on its own defence. Around 4 and 5 May it tested its mutual defence clause in its first administrative exercise since 2022, simulating an attack on a member state and hybrid threats. It launched a drone alliance with Ukraine and opened applications for founding members. An EU commissioner announced plans for a "military Schengen" network to speed the movement of troops and equipment across member states. Poland said it would finalise military deals worth $27 billion under the EU's SAFE programme by the end of May, and Ukraine planned to buy 20 fighter jets from Sweden using an EU loan. Germany supported EU intelligence plans, and OCCAR ordered 72 RCH 155 howitzers for the British Army.
Other items included a new EU anti-terror strategy with the goal of eliminating drug cartels, a call from the EU for coordinated international action against the Sinaloa cartel, and a demand for answers after shots were fired at a migrant rescue ship in the Mediterranean. Vladimir Putin replaced the commander of Russia's Aerospace Forces with a general under EU sanctions.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
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