The EU’s Common Security and Defense Policy has increasingly sidelined democracy-related commitments in favor of security priorities. As geopolitical challenges mount, the union must restore CSDP as a meaningful part of its democracy-security toolbox.

Germany’s next government has a chance to strengthen Europe’s security and its ability to navigate an unpredictable world order. To do so, it must reverse the country’s economic decline and provide strategic leadership to the EU.

To effectively tackle shared geopolitical challenges, the EU and Britain must forge a deeper foreign policy partnership. This will require overcoming political mistrust and resolving thorny issues through compromise.