On Thursday, national security advisor Peter Vorhofer presented the Austrian security strategy. This was developed by around 60 specialists, and all parties were involved in its creation, said Vorhofer. “Every word and every sentence was analyzed and evaluated by everyone.” He assumes that the 57-page document will be valid for several years to come. The day before, the SPÖ, FPÖ and Neos had complained that they had not been involved. The security strategy was approved by the Council of Ministers on Wednesday evening, but it has yet to be considered by Parliament.
Vorhofer pointed to the new challenges. We are moving towards a “multipolar, confrontational world system”. “Austria’s geographical location will no longer protect us,” he warned. “Cyberattacks, supply chain failures and long-range weapons do not care about national borders.” Only the first wave of a crisis can be intercepted nationally, for example by having sufficient stockpiles. A task that falls to Vorhofer. The role of national security advisor was newly created in order to be able to respond to crises more quickly.
New direction for the EU
Relationship with Russia or the role of China. “Over the last few decades, the EU has been successful in keeping the continent peaceful,” said Vorhofer. Until now, the EU had been focused inwards, but now it must focus outwards.
With the security strategy, Austria will become a credible partner internationally, and we know what goals we are pursuing, he praised the paper. The security strategy defined cooperation with NATO as a “partner for peace”. Closer cooperation could be achieved in the exchange of information, disaster relief, peacekeeping missions and training. All of this is compatible with neutrality, said Vorhofer.
Criticism from Upper Austria
There was a stir yesterday about another passage in the security strategy, according to which Austria will end gas deliveries from Russia in 2027. The Upper Austrian People’s Party criticized the move: Russian gas currently accounts for 83 percent of imports. Given this rate, a complete exit would be “dangerous negligence,” said VP regional manager Florian Hiegelsberger. Upper Austria is the largest gas user due to its industry, so “in the interests of job security and price stability, we must have the greatest interest in a secure supply.”
The OÖVP considers the possibility that Ukraine would impose a transit ban in 2025 and therefore no more Russian gas would flow directly to Austria to be merely the “worst case scenario”.
