Head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, in light of Iran's recent attack on Israel, urged the European Union to assume a more proactive role in defense to address threats from authoritarian states, according to the European Commission's website.
According to von der Leyen, Europe is at the center of the world, where the "new league of authoritarians" poses a threat to democratic countries. The head of the European Commission included Russia, Iran, and North Korea in the so-called "new league."
She emphasized that it is time for a European awakening on defense and security issues.
"There is so much at stake here - our freedom and our prosperity depend on our security, and we have to bring our actions in line with this changing security environment," von der Leyen noted.
The head of the European Commission called on European states to be prepared for any threats.
"The threat of war may not be imminent, but it is not impossible. And that starts with the urgent need to rebuild, replenish and transform Member States' armed forces," von der Leyen emphasized.
At the same time, she underscored the importance of NATO for Europe's security, adding that European sovereignty "will never be at the expense of our partners and friends."
Iran's attack on Israel
On the night of April 14, Iran launched an attack on Israeli territory. That night, the Iranian authorities deployed 300 drones and missiles. In response, Jerusalem stated that nearly all aerial targets were intercepted, and the damage from the attack was minimal.
It is also worth noting that at least half of the ballistic missiles launched by Iran malfunctioned. Some failed to launch, while others crashed shortly after takeoff.
Meanwhile, Tel Aviv has promised to retaliate against Iran for the attack; however, the West is urging the country to avoid escalation.
