The European Union (EU) is stepping up its cybersecurity strategy by advocating for the development of offensive cyber capabilities. According to Henna Virkkunen, the EU's technology chief, this move is vital to deter and defend against growing cyber threats. Offensive cyber capabilities, in this context, involve proactive measures that can be deployed not just to defend EU digital infrastructures but to potentially neutralize threats before they can materialize into significant disruptions. Given the rapid evolution and increasing frequency of cyberattacks, especially those that target critical infrastructures and key digital assets across the EU, the need for such proactive measures is becoming more urgent. The proposal reflects a broader strategic shift in how the EU views its cybersecurity posture. Rather than merely focusing on defensive measures such as firewalls and threat monitoring systems, the EU is considering operations that might involve counter-intrusions into threat actors' systems, disrupting their activities before they can attack. This new approach also underscores the geopolitical dimension of cybersecurity. As cyber threats often emanate from state actors or state-sponsored groups with sophisticated technologies, the EU's capability to launch or threaten cyber offensive measures could act as a deterrent. It serves as a signal that the EU is ready to respond to significant cyber-attacks with equal force. Nevertheless, concerns about the ethical implications of cyber offense remain. Questions about oversight, accountability, and the risk of escalation in cyber conflict are part of ongoing debates among policymakers and cybersecurity experts. Overall, the call for offensive capabilities emphasizes the EU's commitment to protecting its digital sovereignty and the security of its members’ online ecosystems.