European Defence and Security

Brief answers to questions about the EU defence and security:

First, it is obvious that NATO remains the strongest defence option for the Europeans. It is a powerful structure, it has invested a lot on training and change, it is well known in the European military circles, and several EU member States see it as the key umbrella. They think that without the might of the Americans, the EU defence is not strong enough.

Second, several EU leaders think that Europe should have its own common defence capacity and that such capacity should be in place in 10 to 15 years’ time. For that to happen, its building must start now, which means more joint EU military activities, more coordination, joint defence industries, shared means, and so on. This option will keep growing but the pace might be slow.

Third, the EU geopolitical interests and views are becoming divergent of those pursued by the US. That is true in Middle East, that is also the case regarding our relations with China, and India, and so on. Diverging interests mean that sooner or later we must be able to put together an independent capability.

Fourth, the EU are afraid of being dragged into conflicts that are only in the interest of the US. They are afraid of a deeper confrontation between the US and China. The EU does not want to automatically take sides on such dispute, if it occurs.

The EU Army: No, thank you!

The talk about building a “EU army” is not wise. It is another example of the high propensity some Europeans leaders have when it comes to shooting themselves on the foot.

The EU defense is very much linked to the strengthening of NATO and also to a clear political will to put some key assets and some highly specialised military people together in a common pool.

To invest resources on a separate EU force is too divert and spread out resources that are already very scarce. It will result in a weaker NATO and in an extremely ineffective EU military establishment. We should oppose that.