European Strategic Autonomy and Small States' Security: In the Shadow of Power

Description

This book analyses whether the EU’s drift towards European strategic autonomy presents a challenge or a window of opportunity for its small member states to advance their security interests. The volume presents small states’ perceptions of European strategic autonomy, highlighting their expectations and concerns. The chapters focus on the depth and breadth of European strategic autonomy, national security considerations, assessment of the impact on transatlantic relations, the expected outputs, and its potential impact on the EU’s institutional structure. It also shows how systemic circumstances and the interests of powerful states, either belonging to the EU (France, Germany, and Poland) or having a significant say in European security architecture (the US), establish opportunities and constraints for the small states to shape European strategic autonomy. In particular, the study focuses on the diverging interests of the Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania), Belgium, Denmark, Greece, Hungary, and the Netherlands. It demonstrates that, in most cases, European strategic autonomy is perceived not as an alternative to NATO but as a supplementary element that could facilitate the development of national military capabilities, indigenous defence industries and resilience to non-military threats. Ultimately, the book suggests that national approaches towards European strategic autonomy mainly stem from pragmatic national security and foreign policy considerations, while largely ignoring grand strategic ideas. This book will be of much interest to students of European politics, security studies, and international relations. Cover Endorsement Half Title Series Information Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Table of Contents List of Contributors Acknowledgements Abbreviations 1 Introduction: Small States, International Institutions, and European Strategic Autonomy Establishing a Theoretical Framework Presenting the Case Studies Defining the Scope of European Strategic Autonomy Notes References 2 European Strategic Autonomy: The Origins Story Same Idea But a Different Name The Ever-Widening European Strategic Autonomy Conclusions Notes References 3 Revisiting France’s Commitment to Defence Integration: A Case of Political Functionalism France as the Promoter of European Strategic Autonomy Conditionality of the French Strategic Culture The Role of France’s Defence Industrial Interests and European Defence as a Problem-Solving Structure Conclusions Notes References 4 Germany: The Renewed Quest for Strategic Autonomy Merkel: Kicking the Can Down the Road? “Traffic Light” Coalition: the Pursuit of Sovereign Europe The Zeitenwende Moment? Conclusions Note References 5 Poland’s Resilient Atlanticism Scepticism and Reasoning “And the Earth Was Without Form…” Common Causes of Trust Issues Open Strategic Autonomy “I Have a Dream” Conclusions References List 6 US Foreign Policy During the Biden Presidency: A Reset in the US Approach... Traditional US Position About the European Strategic Autonomy Biden Administration’s Position About the EU as One of the Transatlantic Relations’ Pillars The European Strategic Autonomy in the Biden Administration’s Foreign Policy Conclusions References 7 Through the Estonian Looking Glass: Can NATO’s Credible Deterrence and EU Strategic Autonomy Succeed Simultaneously? Estonian Political Elite On ESA Estonian Military Leadership On ESA Estonian Academic Debates On ESA Would Institutional Reforms Make ESA More Appealing for Estonia? Conclusions Note References 8 Military Capabilities First, Politics Later: Latvia’s Approach to European Strategic Autonomy Desirable Scope of ESA Compatibility With NATO and the Role of the US in European Security Capabilities Institutions, Instruments, and Potential Allies Conclusions Interviews Note References 9 European Strategic Autonomy in Lithuania’s Foreign Policy Discourse European Strategic Autonomy in Lithuania’s Perspective The European Strategic Autonomy in Lithuania’s Foreign and Security Policy Transatlantic Relations and EU Strategic Autonomy EU Defence Capabilities, Industry, and Technologies The EU Defence Institutionalisation, PESCO, and Military Mobility Eastern Partnerships, European Peace Facility, and EU Support to Ukraine Conclusions Note References 10 European Strategic Autonomy: Opportunities and Threats for Denmark Danish Security and Defence Policies and Priorities The Issue of the EU Opt-Outs European Strategic Autonomy – a Necessity, a Threat, and a Delicate Balancing Act European Strategic Autonomy: What It Should Look Like From a Danish Perspective Conclusions Note References 11 Belgium and European Strategic Autonomy Cross-cutting Interests as the Main Determinants of Foreign and Defence Policy Belgian Vision of European Strategic Autonomy Multinational Military Integration The NATO Watermark Institutional Perspectives Conclusions Note References 12 Dutch Security and Defence Policy: From Faithful Ally to Pragmatic European Introduction From Neutrality to Alliance Member: the Myth of the Faithful Ally The Dutch Interests in a New European Security Architecture A New Century, a New Dutch Political Landscape Changes in the European Political Landscape and Shifts in the Dutch Security and Defence Policy From Either – Or Towards and – And: a New Dutch Orientation Towards EU The Netherlands and International Defence Industrial Cooperation Strategic Compass and Strategic Autonomy: “He Who Must Not Be Named” Conclusions: Reflecting On War in Europe Notes References 13 A Reluctant Supporter: The Hungarian Perspective On European Strategic Autonomy Sources, Structure, and Methodology European Defence Integration and Hungarian Strategic Thought European Strategic Autonomy: Constraints and Opportunities Conclusions Interview List Notes References 14 Shared Values and Common Borders: Why Greece Views European Strategic Autonomy as an Opportunity Defence and Security Priorities ESA – What Does It Mean for Greece? Whose Ally? Conclusions Notes References 15 Conclusions: Domination of Pragmatism Towards the European Strategic Autonomy Small States’ Expectations and Concerns Systemic Stimuli and the Interests of the Powerful Concluding Remarks Notes References Index