The time for complacency about Europe as a bastion of enduring peace has come to an end.

Today, our continent finds itself at the centre of an arc of instability ranging from the battlefields of Ukraine to the Caucasus, the Middle East and the Sahel, but often lacks sufficient tools to significantly influence the course of events in these regions.

Meanwhile, the pillars of the postwar order are crumbling. Free trade, multilateral cooperation, liberal democracy and international law are increasingly contested. All forms of interdependencies, such as energy, technology or migration are being weaponised. 

Confronted with revisionist powers such as Russia and China, and a United States whose pivot to Asia seems inevitable no matter who wins the next election, we Europeans need to do more to ensure our own security. And we also need to think about security more comprehensively, encompassing military, economic, climate, technology, and energy issues.

The case for a more robust European security architecture has never been stronger. This is my main conclusion from the conversations I had with European political leaders at Blenheim Palace this week.  

The meeting of the European Political Community reflected this multifaceted approach to security on the European continent, even though there was never any doubt that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine topped the list of threats. It must be clear to all Europeans that if we allow Putin’s Russia to turn Ukraine into a second Belarus, we will pay a much higher price later. As President Zelenskyy said at Blenheim: "When the aggressor loses, the world wins".

A Ukraine that prevails against Russia is the best security guarantee for Europe and that should guide our thinking and actions. I know this has been the assessment of the UK from day one and I was very pleased to hear Prime Minister Starmer reassure Ukrainians that the UK will "stand with them for as long as it takes".

This is the right path to follow and the only viable way of defending European security and achieving a just and enduring peace. Only a peace that gives Ukraine full sovereignty and ironclad security guarantees is a real peace. Anything else is, at most, a ceasefire that allows Russia to rearm and attack again. Only a Russia that learnt to stay within its borders will lessen pressure on its neighbours and all Europeans.

For the last two years, our co-operation with the UK in helping Kyiv resist Russia’s aggression has been nothing short of exemplary. UK military assistance has been essential since the first days of the Russian invasion and British intelligence has often been at the heart of decision making in Brussels. This close coordination with the United Kingdom is crucial for our shared security interests.

For the EU, one thing is already clear: security and defence will play an even more prominent role in the next legislative term. Meanwhile, the new Labour government has signalled its intention to reset its relationship with the European Union and to seek a deeper and more structured cooperation with the EU in the field of foreign, security and defence policies. 

In addition to Ukraine, one of the areas where I could see closer alignment is Gaza. I fully agreed with Foreign-Secretary Lammy that the situation in Gaza is intolerable and that we must urgently secure a cease-fire deal, free the hostages, make sure humanitarian aid reaches a starving population, and create space for a credible and irreversible pathway towards a two-state solution. 

The UK and the European Union will be aligned in their calls for the respect of international law and against settlement expansions in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem. These are essential issues to shore up the international rules based order which is being contested as never before.

The world order is shifting beneath our feet and both the European Union and the United Kingdom must find their footing. Our response to today's challenges will define our place in this new reality. By working closer together, we can create a formidable partnership that not only safeguards liberty and democracy but also shapes the future of our collective security.