Strength Through Law
17 June 2026
Zaragoza, Spain, 17 June 2026.
As MILEX26 enters its final phase, multinational forces under the European Union’s Rapid Deployment Capacity (EU RDC) conclude a demanding exercise focused on interoperability, operational cohesion and decision-making under realistic conditions. While training activities draw to a close, the exercise also highlights a principle that remains fundamental to every EU operation: military readiness is built on the Rule of Law.
The timing is significant. This week marks important milestones in the development of International Law. On 15 June 1907, the Second Hague Peace Conference advanced principles that continue to guide the conduct of military operations today, including the protection of civilians, infrastructure, such as bridges and cultural property. On 17 June 1925, the Geneva Protocol prohibited the use of chemical and biological weapons, establishing a foundation for subsequent international agreements. Today, 101 years ago, thirteen nations participating in MILEX26 were among its original signatories, demonstrating a continuity of commitment that extends across generations.
For Lieutenant Colonel Simon, Chief LEGal ADvisor (Chief LEGAD) MILEX26 to the Force Commander, such places help explain the enduring relevance of international law.
His role is fully integrated into the exercise command structure, providing legal advice to support operational planning and decision-making in a multinational environment.
“Military effectiveness in a multinational environment depends on the ability to act within a shared legal framework, even under operational pressure.”
For EU RDC and EU Battlegroup forces, this shared legal basis is more than a requirement. It is an operational enabler that strengthens interoperability, supports coherent decision-making and reinforces trust between participating nations.
The practical relevance of these legal principles is also reflected in the capabilities deployed during MILEX26. A Romanian deployable laboratory element contributes analytical support for the detection and assessment of chemical, biological and other hazardous substances. More than a technical capability, it represents a practical response to threats that prompted the international community to adopt agreements such as the Geneva Protocol more than a century ago. In contemporary crisis-management and stabilisation operations, such capabilities contribute to force protection, situational awareness and, when required, the protection of host nation populations.
Throughout MILEX26, legal considerations are integrated into planning and execution, from movement coordination and force protection measures to the assessment of operational risks in complex environments. The objective is clear: to ensure that multinational forces remain effective while operating within internationally recognised legal standards. As the exercise concludes, MILEX26 demonstrates that military readiness and legal compliance are not competing objectives. They reinforce one another.
“Operational strength in a multinational environment is built on capability, but sustained through the disciplined application of the Rule of Law,” says Lieutenant Colonel Simon.
MILEX26 therefore reflects a central European principle: EU forces do not only defend populations, interests and security. They also defend the legal principles on which European security is built. This commitment to the Rule of Law strengthens trust, enables multinational cooperation and gives legitimacy to EU military action in service of the citizens it protects.
