In recent months, the issue of European defense and security has returned to the central agenda of governments and in the reflections of analysts and industry experts: first Brexit, then the recent election of Donald Trump as president of the United States, have made overturns the question of creating a common army that can place the European Union in a truly complementary role and, if necessary, an alternative to NATO or the United Nations (for which, too, a “common” army is missing).
Perhaps on this point it will no longer be possible to beat the momentum since the global scenario has changed drastically from the past: wars are not only fought between regular armies, power blocks no longer exist and the threats that states face are often of other nature ((in primis), terrorist attacks within their borders).
This does not automatically result in the loss of role of some organizations, but it is undoubtedly that Europe must start walking with its legs because, as literature teaches us, "there is no certainty of tomorrow".
And that tomorrow, perhaps, is not so far away, if it is true that, at least as stated by the tycoon American in the electoral campaign, one of the objectives of his political action will be precisely to review the role of the United States in the Atlantic Alliance. How this will happen (if it will happen) is still a question mark: what is certain is that, since the 50s, successive US presidents have all, albeit with different nuances, complained about the lack of commitment of the allies in financing expenses. destined for common security, and in this groove (albeit in a more marked way) the newly elected to the White House seems to place himself.
On the European side there are countries that dedicate less than 1% of their GDP to defense (ours is one of them) and despite having been discussing a common army for years, no concrete results were achieved.
Some argue that the main veto to this project has always been placed by the United Kingdom, jealous of its prerogatives and of the hegemonic role it has always known how to carve out in international contexts. The exit of London from the common European space (also here: when it will happen and, given the recent decision of the High Court of Justice, how it will happen ...) if on the one hand it could constitute an unlocking factor in this perspective, on the other it would involve a serious loss both from a military point of view (not least the fact that Great Britain is a nuclear power) and from a diplomatic point of view (the United Kingdom is one of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council).
Net of these reflections, in a context in which everything seems to be very uncertain (even if the writer considers exaggerated certain proclamations devoted to catastrophic and disengagement of the United States from NATO), to better understand the possible developments in terms of security and defense common concerning the old continent, it could be interesting to analyze the perspectives found in the programmatic document "A Global Strategy for the European Union's Foreign and Security Policy"which, signed by the EU" Foreign Minister ", Federica Mogherini, illustrates the guidelines and objectives that the Union must follow and pursue in the sector.
Above all it allows us to anticipate what will be at least the intentions of the relationship between the future European common defense force and the American-led transatlantic organization, bearing in mind that one of the main reasons for discussion (it was discussed precisely in the recent meeting in Brussels between the Foreign and Defense Ministers of the Union countries) is linked to the form that the aforementioned force may or will have. The resistance of many members to the concept of "integration" will be taken into consideration and will presumably be chosen for a more acceptable concept of "cooperation" (this is an important node, on which the Italian Foreign Ministers Paolo Gentiloni already took their seats last August and Defense Roberta Pinotti, with a letter published by "Le Monde" and "la Repubblica" in which it was claimed that "it would not be a question of creating a 'European army' which brings together all the national forces of the participating States, but of constituting a 'multinational European force', with functions and a mandate established together, endowed with a command structure and decision-making mechanisms and of common budgets").
In the document under examination, after having clarified the purpose of the Union in this area, namely to promote the peace and security of its citizens both inside and outside the borders (as mentioned above, the changed geopolitical scenarios and the new threats to which to cope, they are no longer just external to individual states, but potentially also internal), the need (or awareness) of greater responsibility in the field of security is affirmed (“As Europeans we must take greater responsibility for our security. We must be able to determine, respond to, and protect ourselves against threats"), In the belief that, to be truly important from all points of view, Europe must be able to count on its own military force, ready to intervene in all contexts of crisis, internal and external ("An appropriate level of ambition and strategic autonomy is for Europe's ability to foster peace and safeguard security within and beyond its borders. Europeans must be able to protect Europe, respond to external crises, and assist in developing our partners' security and defense capacities, carrying out these tasks in cooperation with others. Alongside external crisis management and capacity-building, the EU should also be able to assist in protecting its Members upon their request, and its institutions").
Further on we list the new threats that need to be tackled together, including, in addition to terrorism, even the so-called hybrid threats, cyber security and energy security (cyber and energy security ), without forgetting the target missions in the field of "Common Security and Defense Policy" (CSDP) aimed at safeguarding the Union's maritime borders and combating international crimes, linked above all to migration ("This means addressing challenges of mutual assistance and solidarity and includes addressing challenges with both internal and external dimensions, such as terrorism, hybrid threats, cyber and energy security, organized crime and external border management. For instance, missions and operations can work alongside the European Border and Coast Guard and EU specialized agencies to enhance border protection and maritime security in order to save more lives, fight cross-border crime and disrupt smuggling networks").
All the issues already addressed at the NATO summit in Warsaw last July, further testimony to the close symbiosis in which the Union and the Atlantic Alliance can and must operate, as better specified in the document in question: "When it comes to collective defense, NATO remains the primary framework for most Member States. At the same time, EU-NATO relations shall not prejudice the security policy of those members. The EU will therefore deepen cooperation with the North Atlantic Alliance in complementarity, synergy, and full autonomy for the institutional framework, inclusiveness and decision-making autonomy of the two".
As for the relations that the EU intends to have with NATO, on paper the programmatic lines seem sufficiently clear and outlined, but it will be necessary to see in practice what will be the developments in the light not only of the recent American elections and the role that the States United will decide to have in the organization, but also what they will manage to carve out the members of the European Union, still often too distant from each other or afraid of having to face further heavy investments.
Starting to walk on one's own legs is clearly a risk that generates fear: what is evident is that what the new tenant of the White House said was already written in the document signed by Mogherini: "While NATO exists to defend its members - most of which are European - from external attack, Europeans must be better equipped, trained and organized to contribute decisively to such collective efforts, as well as to act autonomously if and when necessary ”.
(photo: web)
