The EU has made a remarkable effort in expanding security and defence cooperation in recent years. Yet, with Russia’s ongoing war of aggression in Ukraine and the threat of further European destabilisation by Putin, a pressing question arises: Can EU member states collectively ensure military security? Progressives are faced with the challenge of balancing tight budgets and their commitment to social and environmental justice with the necessity for credible defence strategies. This session brings together European politicians and thinkers to discuss what strategies progressives should pursue in the quest for achieving European strategic autonomy while sticking to principles of feminist foreign policy and human security.