The European Union has declared Russia a major threat to security in the near future

The European Union has stated that it sees Russia as the most serious threat to European security in the near future. The White Paper on the operational readiness of European defense by 2030, announced in Brussels, highlights Russia's aggressive nuclear policy and the placement of nuclear weapons in Belarus as particularly dangerous situations.

The document accuses Moscow of creating a "systemic instability network" and notes that it has been consistently provoking conflict and instability in the neighboring regions of the European Union—countries such as the Western Balkans, Georgia, Moldova, and Armenia—through close cooperation with authoritarian states. Additionally, Russia's influence on the African continent is also described as a destabilizing factor.

Brussels has also paid special attention to the situation in Ukraine. According to the European Union, if Russia achieves its goals in Ukraine, its territorial ambitions will have an even broader scope.

Another important aspect is that by 2025, Russia's defense spending in terms of purchasing power parity is expected to exceed the total defense spending of EU member states. This could lead to significant changes in Europe's defense policy.

In this regard, the European Union has decided to focus seriously on Russia in its defense strategy and to further strengthen security measures.