EU prepares protocol for responding to hybrid attacks without duplicating NATO — Anadolu Agency
In Brussels, Belgium, European Union countries have begun discussing an emergency security protocol to coordinate responses to so-called grey-zone attacks. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas said after a meeting of EU defence ministers that this mechanism should complement NATO instruments rather than create parallel structures.
As Anadolu Agency reports, Kallas discussed the matter with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. According to her, the protocol should define the tools that member states can use in the event of aggression that does not constitute an armed attack and does not reach the threshold of Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty.
Difference from NATO mechanisms
Kallas noted that NATO Article 4 provides for consultations among allies if the security of one Alliance member is threatened. The EU initiative, by contrast, should focus on possible actions by member states in response to hybrid attacks below the threshold of armed aggression.
According to the EU High Representative, all participants stressed during the discussion the need to avoid duplicating Alliance mechanisms. She emphasized that the future protocol must operate in close cooperation with NATO.
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Decisions on support for Ukraine
Kallas also said that EU states had agreed on the allocation of €6.6 billion from the European Peace Facility for Ukraine. She described air defence as a key priority for Kyiv, while noting that the meeting produced no new commitments to supply air-defence interceptors.
EU countries also agreed on the first stage of a strategic review of the EU Military Assistance Mission to Ukraine, including extending the mission for another two years. The European Union plans to establish a coordination hub in Kyiv that will work on consolidating combat experience and strengthening military education.
Operation in the Red Sea
Kallas said that Houthi attacks and advances had increased risks to shipping in the Red Sea. According to her, the EU's Aspides operation helped keep the waterway open, but the mission needs additional resources to operate more effectively. Two member states indicated that they could provide additional ships, but the mission needs not only new vessels but also ships with the appropriate capabilities.
