Kaja Kallas says that the EU is entering a new world order dominated by competition and coercion and sets three external priorities.

The President of the European Commission, Kaja Kallas, stated at the 2026 EU Ambassadors Conference that the world is heading towards a new international order marked by competition, spheres of influence, and the erosion of global rules, and that the Union's response must focus on defending Europe and supporting Ukraine, the stability of the neighborhood, and enlargement, as well as partnerships for economic growth.

The High Representative of the EU, Kaja Kallas, stated on Monday that the Union is facing a "new world order" characterized by competition and coercive power politics and that the European response must focus on three priorities: defending Europe and supporting Ukraine, the stability of the neighborhood and enlargement, as well as partnerships that will support Europe's economic growth.

In short

Kaja Kallas says that global trends indicate a "new world order characterized by competition and coercive power politics," against the backdrop of the erosion of international law and the weakening of the norms and institutions built over the last 80 years.

The EU's first priority remains the defense of Europe and military, financial, and political support for Ukraine, with 195 billion euros allocated since 2022 and another 90 billion euros in preparation.

The second priority is the stability of the neighborhood, and Kallas says that enlargement "must remain merit-based," but that "in the current context we must accelerate the pace" and that "enlargement is a geopolitical choice."

In the Middle East, Kallas states that the EU has activated the civil protection mechanism, has begun evacuations fully funded by the EU, and is preparing a new initiative regarding drone interceptors.

The third priority is building partnerships for Europe's economic growth, including through the expansion of trade agreements and security and defense partnerships.

In her keynote speech at the 2026 EU Ambassadors Conference, Kallas linked the two "preeminent global crises" of today, the Middle East and Russia's aggressive war against Ukraine, to the same underlying cause, "the erosion of international law." She said that this degradation has been amplified at the moment when Russia, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, invaded its neighbor "with impunity" and sent the world the signal that "there is no longer accountability for one's actions."

Kallas warned that without restoring international law and accountability, repeated violations of the law, disruption, and chaos will continue. She listed the conflict in the Middle East, Russia's total war against Ukraine, China's preparation "for decades" to reimagine the world "in its own image," conflicts in Africa, including Sudan and the DRC, as well as "a fundamental reorientation across the Atlantic." In her formulation, "cumulatively, these trends indicate a new world order characterized by competition and coercive power politics, with military powers seeking to establish and secure spheres of influence."

The European response, she said, depends on two things: the ability to deliver on priorities and the ability to mobilize international support. From this logic, Kallas structured her speech around three priorities. The first is "defending Europe," including military, financial, and political support for Ukraine, which she described as "an existential issue for us." She said that the EU is "Ukraine's number one supporter," with 195 billion euros since 2022 and without including "the 90 billion support loan that is in preparation."

In the same section, Kallas presented as successful examples of the EEAS actions against Russia's "phantom fleet" and combating foreign interference and information manipulation, including in Moldova. She said that the war has forced the EU to redirect its attention to protecting its own Europe, with "approximately 40% of personnel and the CSDP budget dedicated to our own continent" and stated that, through CSDP civilian and military missions, the EU is now "the largest international presence on the ground in Ukraine."

Her political message regarding Russia was that Moscow "is not winning," that its army is stuck, the economy is "in sharp decline," and demographically Russia is "imploding." However, Kallas warned that the major threat is that Russia will gain more "at the negotiating table and through cognitive warfare" than it has on the battlefield. For this reason, she said, "Russia's maximalist demands cannot receive a minimalist response." She listed four principles: limiting Ukraine's army should also be accompanied by limiting Russia's, Russia must pay for the damages caused to Ukraine, there should be no amnesty for war crimes or for the crime of aggression, and deported Ukrainian children must be returned.

Kallas added that "there is no indication" that Russia wants to end the war and cited the "massive strikes" on Saturday against Ukraine, which "again killed many civilians." Her conclusion was that "everything we see indicates that Russia wants to expand the war." In this context, she said that Europe is rearming to strengthen its defense capacity, both bilaterally and "with our friends across NATO," by developing "a stronger European pillar in the Alliance." The key formula of this section was that "deterring war is cheaper than waging it."

Kallas said that she is working together with member states and with the President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, on "a new comprehensive approach" for all dimensions of European security, from economic security to preparedness, technological autonomy, and defense.

The second priority defined in the speech is "the stability of our neighborhood." In this section, Kallas reiterated the theme of enlargement and described it as "the most successful external policy of the Union," which expands the area of stability, peace, and prosperity. She said that enlargement "must remain merit-based," but that "in the current context we must accelerate the pace" and explicitly formulated the idea that "enlargement is a geopolitical choice." She also said that "enlargement is the antidote to Russian imperialism and a sign that the most ambitious multilateral project in history, the European Union, is here to stay."

On the southern flank, Kallas said that there is "just as much demand for Europe" and that what is happening in the Middle East and North Africa "does not remain in MENA." She spoke about "a completely new situation in the Middle East" and said that a new war brings uncertainty and chaos. Regarding Iran, Kallas stated that it is responsible for "decades of violence" and that "the less Iran has options to terrorize the region, the better," adding that the regime is weaker than in previous years, but that there is no "clear trajectory" regarding the end of the war.

In the same section, she said that reports suggesting that Moscow and Tehran are collaborating to target American troops "should not surprise anyone," while Ukraine "is offering to help defend our partners in the Gulf," concluding that this alone "should tell you who your friends are."

Kallas also listed the EU's actions in the Middle East. She said that the Union has activated the civil protection mechanism, that "this morning, the first of two EU-funded flights evacuated citizens from the region," that the EU is providing consular assistance, that the ASPIDES and ATALANTA naval operations have protected ships in the region, and that, "in response to the need for drone interceptors," a new initiative is being prepared to become an "intermediary" between Ukraine's industrial production and the military needs of countries in the Middle East. Regarding this combination of measures, Kallas said: "This is what we call solidarity in action."

She added that the Middle East, Europe, and the world all have something to lose from a prolonged war and reiterated that peace is the "clear priority" of the EU, including in Gaza, where the Union is "ready to provide practical assistance," including due to its civilian missions.

The third priority is "the partnership to ensure Europe's economic growth." Kallas said that "economic strength is the basis of a strong foreign policy" and that this is the element that permanently differentiates the Union from other actors, "we have friends and we stand by them." In the same vein, she stated that the EU has greatly expanded its free trade area through agreements with Mercosur and India, reaching nearly 2 billion consumers, and that 76 countries are already covered by EU trade agreements, with other agreements in prospect for Mexico, Australia, and others.

In the security plan, Kallas said that the EU has a long-standing strategic partnership with NATO, but also bilateral agreements, including new Security and Defense Partnerships with countries in Europe, Asia, and North America. She announced that she will sign this week "the tenth" with Australia and that others will follow "with Iceland and Ghana in the coming days," adding that there are "many other interested countries knocking at our door."

The speech also contained an internal message for the EU's diplomatic network. Kallas said that, in the face of challenges "without precedent in the history of the European Union," it is necessary to streamline the external presence and direct resources "where they are most needed," which means that the EU "will be present, but in some places with a lighter footprint." She said that this "modernization of the EU delegation network" will come into effect with this year's rotation. The same call for agility and flexibility was made for the headquarters, in the context of budgetary constraints.

In the final part, Kallas also formulated seven principles for EU diplomats, from a "preference for even more action," to global thinking, occupying diplomatic space, closer collaboration among colleagues, communication "with verve, with style," defending human rights and international law, and closer cooperation between delegations and CSDP missions or operations. She warned that next year "does not promise to be easier," citing national elections in member states, developments in the Middle East and Ukraine, the midterm elections in the United States, and discussions regarding the future multiannual financial framework.

https://2eu.brussels/ro/stiri/kaja-kallas-spune-ca-ue-intra-intr-o-noua-ordine-mondiala-dominata-de-competitie-si-coercitie-si-isi-fixeaza-trei-prioritati-externe