Who is Ursula von der Leyen?

I. Early Life and Political Formation

Ursula Gertrud von der Leyen was born on October 8, 1958 in Brussels, Belgium, into a family with deep political roots. Her father, Ernst Albrecht, was a senior European civil servant before becoming a key figure in German regional politics as Minister‑President of Lower Saxony. Growing up between Brussels and Germany, von der Leyen’s education was shaped by both European integration and transnational political identity — seeds that would later shape her worldview.

She studied economics at the London School of Economics and medicine at Hannover Medical School, qualifying as a medical doctor in 1987 and later specializing in public health. Her transition into politics came through Germany’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU), the center‑right party led for many years by Chancellor Angela Merkel. Von der Leyen was elected to the Lower Saxony State Parliament in 2003 and quickly entered the federal government in 2005, where she served in key ministries including Family Affairs, Labour and Social Affairs, and finally Defence.

Her tenure as Defence Minister — the first woman to hold that post in Germany — was marked by efforts to modernize the Bundeswehr but also faced criticism for logistical and strategic shortcomings. Nevertheless, this period established her profile as a senior figure in European politics and prepared her for a transnational leadership role.

II. Rise to European Leadership

In 2019, Ursula von der Leyen achieved a historic milestone by becoming President of the European Commission, the first woman to hold this office. Her election came at a moment of rising populism and skepticism toward the EU. She pledged to reinvigorate the European project by responding to migration challenges, climate change, digital transformation, and geopolitical instability.

Early Achievements and Policy Agenda (2019–2024)

Upon taking office, von der Leyen declared a “geopolitical Commission” — signaling a shift from regulatory and internal economic coordination to a foreign policy‑oriented, strategic European Union. Her administration prioritized:

European Green Deal: An ambitious transition to climate neutrality by 2050, with legislation covering carbon pricing, clean energy transitions, and sustainable finance.
Digital and Technological Sovereignty: Initiatives aimed at strengthening European capabilities in artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and digital infrastructure.
Social Policy Reforms: Reinforcing worker rights, mobility of skills, and social safety nets as part of a “Social Europe.”
Covid‑19 Pandemic Response: Spearheading the EU’s vaccine procurement strategy and the €750 billion NextGenerationEU recovery fund, hailed as a breakthrough in shared fiscal solidarity.

She was re‑elected for a second five‑year term in July 2024 with strong parliamentary support, underlining confidence in her leadership despite rising EU skepticism in some member countries.

III. Leadership in 2025–2026: Geopolitics, Defense, and Global Partnerships

The years 2025 and 2026 have been defining for von der Leyen’s presidency, marked by urgent geopolitical pressures — from Russia’s war in Ukraine to shifting transatlantic relations, global trade tensions, and new strategic partnerships.

1. Europe’s Strategic Autonomy and Defense Vision

Perhaps the most transformative aspect of von der Leyen’s recent leadership is her push to evolve the EU into a strategic actor capable of autonomous defense and resilient security.

In March 2025, she unveiled Readiness 2030 (originally branded “ReArm Europe”), a sweeping proposal to strengthen the EU’s military capabilities. The plan aims to mobilize up to €800 billion in defense investments, streamline joint procurement of critical systems like air defense, drones, and missile technologies, and encourage member states to boost defense spending within the EU framework.

This initiative has become central to von der Leyen’s vision of reducing Europe’s dependence on external security guarantees — particularly from the United States — and responding effectively to threats, including those posed by Russia’s unprovoked aggression against Ukraine.

Her defense agenda aligns with broader calls for European strategic autonomy. In speeches and policy documents, she has framed this autonomy as essential for Europe’s independence moment in a world of geopolitical competition.

Her position resonates with other European leaders such as Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who in January 2026 endorsed a stronger European NATO presence and resilient defense cooperation amid tensions with the U.S. and beyond.

This defense focus marks a departure from the EU’s traditionally non‑military posture and reflects the reality of an unstable security environment. Yet it is also a source of debate within the Union, particularly among member states wary of increased EU budgetary integration or dilution of national control over military forces.

2. Support for Ukraine and Peace Advocacy

For von der Leyen, support for Ukraine has been both a moral and strategic priority. Since Russia’s invasion in 2022, the European Commission has coordinated sanctions, provided financial and military assistance to Kyiv, and affirmed Ukraine’s eventual EU accession as part of Europe’s long-term stability agenda.

In early 2026, she publicly reaffirmed this commitment, issuing a New Year’s message expressing her wish for a “just and lasting peace” for Ukraine and pledging continued EU support for Ukraine’s resilience and security.

This stance reflects her broader diplomatic philosophy: that lasting peace in Europe must be grounded in respect for sovereignty, human rights, and international rule of law — principles she has stressed repeatedly in calls for a sustainable end to the conflict.

3. Global Trade Diplomacy: India and Beyond

Von der Leyen’s leadership in trade policy has also taken center stage in 2025–2026. The EU concluded a landmark free trade agreement with India, described by some as the “mother of all deals” due to its strategic significance in diversifying Europe’s economic partnerships beyond traditional Western alliances.

This agreement — accelerated in the context of heightened transatlantic trade tensions and punitive tariff threats from the U.S. administration — illustrates von der Leyen’s diplomatic balancing act: strengthening international trade ties while defending European interests against protectionist shocks. It also underscores her commitment to forging robust relations with major global players outside the traditional EU‑U.S.-China triangle.

In January 2026, she attended India’s Republic Day as chief guest, a symbolic affirmation of EU‑India cooperation and mutual respect. Her presence was not only diplomatic but cultural; she wore a traditional Banarasi silk jacket, signifying respect and engagement with Indian heritage and signaling the importance Europe places on this partnership.

Global trade strategy under her leadership also includes strengthening economic ties with Japan, Indonesia, Mexico, and the Mercosur bloc — partnerships that underpin the EU’s ambitions to reinforce supply chain security, technological competitiveness, and economic resilience.

4. Internal Union Priorities: Jobs, Skills, Social Rights, and the Green Transition

While foreign policy and defense have dominated headlines, von der Leyen’s Commission has also advanced efforts on internal EU priorities:

In early 2025, she established a Commissioners’ Project Group on Skills, Jobs, and Social Rights to help Europe adapt to technological change, boost labor mobility, and ensure social protection amidst economic transformation.
The Commission continues to support Social Europe initiatives aimed at reducing poverty and exclusion, enhancing access to education and healthcare, and combating homelessness — key pillars of her broader social agenda.

Yet these domestic social policies often compete for attention and resources with security and geopolitical imperatives, leading to nuanced trade-offs in priorities and political support across member states.

IV. State of the Union Addresses and Vision Setting

The State of the Union (SOTEU) address is a defining moment each year for the Commission President to articulate her vision. In September 2025, von der Leyen used this platform to reaffirm Europe’s commitment to democratic resilience, economic competitiveness, climate action, and collective security — crystallizing an agenda of strategic autonomy in the face of global fragmentation.

Her message blended optimism with urgency: Europe must adapt to a world where economic power, defense capability, and diplomatic influence are increasingly contested, and where internal cohesion is essential for external credibility.

V. Controversies and Criticisms

No leader of an institution as complex as the EU is without critics. Ursula von der Leyen’s tenure is marked by both praise and controversy:

1. Environmental Policy Rollbacks and Green Deal Debate

Although the Green Deal has been a signature policy of her Commission, recent moves to simplify or roll back components — particularly the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) — have drawn criticism from environmental and human rights groups. These critics argue that weakening key elements of environmental accountability undermines Europe’s climate leadership promise.

Debate around climate ambition has intensified as Europe’s geopolitical needs strain budgets and political capital, forcing compromises that sometimes appear at odds with earlier environmental commitments.

2. Parliamentary Pushback and Confidence Motions

Von der Leyen has faced repeated motions of no confidence in the European Parliament — four by early 2026 — largely driven by opposition to trade deals and concerns about transparency, trade policy impacts, and perceived democratic accountability gaps.

Although these motions have consistently failed, they reveal deep fractures in European politics, where far-right, far-left, and some centrist factions challenge Commission leadership on economic and sovereignty grounds.

3. Transatlantic Relations Under Strain

Relations with the United States have been a thorny dimension of her presidency, especially amid policy divergence under the Trump administration’s return to power. Von der Leyen’s efforts to navigate tariff disputes, geopolitical rivalry, and strategic autonomy debates reflect broader EU anxieties about overdependence on Washington for security and economic stability.

Some critics accuse her of overreaching in defense and foreign policy, blurring lines between Commission competencies and national or EU diplomatic structures.

VI. Leadership Style, Legacy, and Influence

Ursula von der Leyen’s leadership is characterized by pragmatic ambition — moving beyond technocratic governance toward a vision of Europe as a global actor capable of shaping the 21st century’s geopolitical landscape. This vision has earned her accolades, including being named Forbes’ most influential woman of 2025, recognizing her impact on global politics and decision-making.

Her style is often described as consensual yet assertive: she builds alliances across diverse political groups while driving forward bold initiatives. Yet her pragmatic approach has sometimes resulted in compromises that frustrate both environmental activists and economic conservatives.

She maintains that Europe must remain anchored in democratic values while adapting to a world of contestation and conflict — a message that continues to shape EU policy direction.

VII. A Geopolitical Union at a Crossroads

As of early 2026, Ursula von der Leyen’s European Commission confronts a complex strategic moment:

The war in Ukraine persists, testing EU unity and commitment to peace and security.
Transatlantic friction underscores Europe’s need for strategic autonomy in defense and trade.
New global partnerships with India and other regions present opportunities for influence and economic diversification.
Internal political tensions — spanning social policy, environmental regulation, and democratic accountability — challenge cohesion and consensus..