Informal EU Defence Ministers Meet in Wicklow, Ireland — Ukraine Air Defence, Hormuz, Hybrid Threats

EU defence ministers met at Druids Glen, County Wicklow, on August 31–September 1, hosted by Ireland's Minister for Defence Helen McEntee as part of Ireland's Council Presidency, together with High Representative Kaja Kallas. Kallas called air defence capabilities the most urgent need, describing July–August as the 'deadliest months' for Ukrainian civilians in the war, and urged member states — some of whom hold interceptor missile stockpiles nearing expiry — to hand them over; she reported 'unfortunately no concrete success' securing fresh pledges from Greece and Spain. Ministers also discussed maintaining freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz without tolls or fees, protection of critical undersea infrastructure, and space defence. Kallas warned Russia is hitting Europe with 'a wave of increasingly kinetic hybrid attacks' meant to intimidate Ukraine's supporters. McEntee said Ireland has raised defence spending 43% and intends to join the EU's SAFE defence-investment instrument, and confirmed Ireland is 'absolutely' willing to contribute to a prospective new EU mission in Lebanon once UNIFIL's mandate expires.