A major European Union military exercise in Spain is a crucial step in developing the bloc’s rapid reaction force, says EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell. The exercise involves 2,800 military personnel from nine EU member states and simulates an intervention in another country that has requested assistance. The EU’s new defence strategy aims to increase its capacity to act, including the establishment of a rapid reaction force of up to 5,000 troops by 2025. This move gained traction during the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, which highlighted the EU’s reliance on the United States for evacuations. NATO has traditionally been the cornerstone of European defence, but there is a rising call for the EU to enhance its own capability.