Trio-Ministers discuss European Defence

Ministers of Defence from Portugal, Germany and Slovenia, João Gomes Cravinho, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer and Matej Tonin, represented by State Secretary Uroš Lampret, met today to take stock of developments in European defence policy via video link.

Together the Trio states:

”With our common goal to strengthen the EU’s ability to act we are taking the next concrete steps to develop our key project – the Strategic Compass. Joint action is based on common interests. Common interests are identified by a thorough analysis of today’s and tomorrow’s world.”

In the run-up to the Informal Meeting of Defence Ministers to take place on the 2-3 March, 2021, discussions included developments regarding the Strategic Compass, the EU’s Strategy for Maritime Security and Transatlantic Relations in Security and Defence.

Ministers addressed the importance of advancing this stage of strategic dialogue on the Strategic Compass building on the first EU threat analysis, identifying concrete steps to move the process forward and assuring full participation of all EU member states.

Following up on the adoption by the Council of Ministers of the Coordinated Maritime Presences, the Trio discussed possible concrete measures on how this initiative could be quickly operationalised in the Gulf of Guinea, which is first Maritime Area of Interest defined by the EU. Finally, on Transatlantic Relations, the Defence Ministers of the Trio discussed the most important aspects to be addressed with the new US administration, in preparation for the next Informal Meeting of Defence Ministers in Lisbon. Moreover, ministers discussed measures to operationalise the new European Peace Facility to train and equip partners in training missions.

This was the first Trio meeting during the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the EU, continuing an established practice of regular contacts among Trio members Germany, Portugal and Slovenia, which will be continued in the months ahead. The last Trio-VTC took place on 10 December 2020.