EU should 'bring to life' mutual defence pact, von der Leyen says


European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaks during the Munich Security Conference (MSC) in Munich, Germany, February 14, 2026. REUTERS/Liesa Johannssen

MUNICH, Feb ⁠14 (Reuters) - The European ⁠Union should "bring to life" ‌a mutual defence pact anchored in its founding treaty, European ​Commission President Ursula ⁠von der ⁠Leyen said at the Munich ⁠Security Conference ‌on Saturday.

"Mutual defence is ⁠not an optional task for ​the ‌European Union. It is an ⁠obligation ​within our own treaty," von der Leyen ⁠said in a speech ​at the conference.

"It is our collective commitment to stand ⁠by each other in case of aggression, or in simple terms: ​one for ⁠all and all for one. ​And this ‌is Europe's meaning."

(Reporting ​by Andrew Gray; Editing by Sarah Marsh)

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