Ursula von der Leyen is making a grab for more power over European foreign policy. Von der Leyen’s foreign policy power grabUrsula von der Leyen used a speech to European Union ambassadors yesterday to call for the EU to project its power more assertively and to put security at the heart of all its activities. Von der Leyen said Europe could no longer be “a custodian for the old-world order” and could no longer rely on the rules-based system as the only way to defend its interests. Von der Leyen became commission president in 2019 following an undistinguished ministerial career in Berlin that culminated in a stint as German defence minister that was broadly judged to have been a disaster. While von der Leyen demands an end to national vetoes over EU foreign policy decisions and is seeking more influence through a new European security strategy, Europe’s global position has diminished under her leadership.

Source: The Irish Times March 10, 2026 14:18 UTC