East Europeans will gain influence on Western security

Significance She implied that the role should go to someone from Central-Eastern Europe (CEE). Von der Leyen’s message emphasises how far the balance in decision-making on European security has shifted to the east in the past two years. Impacts ‘Hard’ power will increasingly determine European security: armed force, defence spending commitment, firm positions and military readiness. CEE countries’ faster response than many Western European partners to the new requirements will give them greater weight. The lack of US leadership and ‘ballast’ will change the balance considerably in NATO and the EU.