Crises in our immediate neighbourhood, the United States’ partial reorientation, and the impact of as well as the defence and technological challenges resulting from the COVID-19Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic require that we better pool European resources. Despite BREXIT, cooperation with the United Kingdom will continue to be of high importance to Germany and France with respect to security policy. The E3 format provides an added value for new impulses, also as an additional link between the EU and NATO.