Von der Leyen Proposes European Security Council, Hybrid Response Protocol

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed a European Security Council including EU, UK, Norway, Ukraine, and Canada, and a new protocol to coordinate responses to hybrid threats below conventional warfare, such as sabotage and drone incursions. This signals a formalized Western security architecture expansion beyond the EU, likely in response to Russian hybrid activities. The proposal's adoption and scope remain uncertain, but it marks a notable institutional shift in European defense coordination.