On the 10th January, the EU and NATO signed in Bruxelles their third joint declaration on cooperation in security and defense field. On the one hand the declaration condemned again Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and reaffirmed the two parties’ support to Ukraine, on the other hand it established a common view about EU and new action strategies both signers are willing to take to safeguard their own security. The two organizations are deepening and expanding their cooperation in many areas to tackle growing challenges like geostrategic competition, groundbreaking new technologies, climate change's implications in security and information handling and interferences from abroad. Resilience strengthening and critical infrastructures safeguarding in Members States of both organizations were also discussed. Moreover, the declaration addressed China's increasing aggressivity and its intensifying attempts to change the world order to its advantage.
EU Council President Charles Michel affirmed that besides the great goals achieved also in “combatting hybrid and information threats” and in operative cooperation, security dangers to be confronted are “evolving in terms of range and dimension”. It is therefore necessary to take partnership to the next level. “Make Europe stronger, make NATO stronger, as strong allies make strong alliances. We Europeans want to take more accountability about our defense, and this means strengthening the EU pilar in NATO”. In addition, NATO Secretary General Jeans Stoltenberg declared “our joint declaration clarifies that NATO stays key in our collective defense and essential for Euro-Atlantic security”.
The news was not positively welcomed by those who have always fought for an increased European strategic autonomy - for example, France would want an European Union more independent from the United States. Notwithstanding many initiatives to foster Common Security and Defense Policy and make the EU able to provide for its own safeguard, before the worst war in the continent since 1945, the EU decided to rely on Uncle Sam’s F-35s, Patriot missiles and nuclear power.
Moreover, the joint declaration goes to the opposite direction then the Strategic Compass published in March 2022. The Strategic Compass can be considered a means to boost the EU’s Common Security and Defense Policy by 2030. Its aim is to make the EU a more accountable and independent actor in security and defense and, the opposite to the European Global strategy of 2016 , it represents a reliable action plan with deadlines.
Nonetheless, the joint EU-NATO declaration refers to a more developed European security not in the views of an EU independence from the USA – rather as a positive contribution to Euro-Atlantic security, as per NATO mandate. NATO is “key in our collective defense and essential for Euro-Atlantic security”, as in Stoltenberg’s words.
To conclude, the EU has always relied on the American alley in the security and defense industry. Several steps towards an increased EU strategy have been taken, like the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO), the European Defense Fund (EDF) or the Coordinated Annual Review on Defense (CARD). Nonetheless, NATO is the main means for keeping European security.
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L'Autore
Valentina Ruaro
Sono laureata in Scienze Internazionali e Diplomatiche presso l'Università di Bologna e attualmente sto frequentando il corso di laurea magistrale in Studi sulla Sicurezza, l'Intelligence e la gli studi strategici, con un percorso accademico che include prestigiose istituzioni come l'Università di Glasgow, l'Università di Trento e l'Università Karlova di Praga.
Nel campo accademico, collaboro come autrice per Mondo Internazionale, affrontando temi fondamentali sul ruolo delle organizzazioni internazionali, con particolare attenzione all’Unione Europea e alla NATO. Inoltre, per coinvolgere un pubblico più ampio, produco anche contenuti su Instagram per MI Post. Attualmente, sto svolgendo un tirocinio presso il NATO Defense College a Roma, dove approfondisco le mie competenze nell'ambito dell'educazione, della sicurezza e della difesa.
Ho maturato esperienza nel settore della ricerca lavorando per l'European Army Interoperability Centre di Bruxelles, concentrandomi sull'interoperabilità degli stati membri e sul ruolo esterno dell’UE.
I miei interessi ruotano attorno alla geopolitica, alla CSDP dell'UE, alla difesa NATO, con un focus geografico sulla regione Euro-Atlantica e il Medio Oriente, in particolare la Siria.
Motivata dall'empatia e da una determinazione incessante per il cambiamento, sono pronta a continuare a plasmare conversazioni e azioni nel campo della sicurezza internazionale e della difesa.
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I hold a Bachelor's degree in International Relations and Diplomatic Affairs from the University of Bologna, and I am currently pursuing a Master's degree in Security, Intelligence, and Strategic Studies. My academic journey includes esteemed institutions such as the University of Glasgow, the University of Trento, and Charles University in Prague.
Within the academic realm, I collaborate as an author for Mondo Internazionale, addressing pivotal topics concerning the roles of international organisations, particularly focusing on the European Union and NATO. Additionally, I engage a broader audience by creating content on Instagram for MI Post. I am currently interning at the NATO Defense College in Rome, further honing my skills in the education, security, and defence sectors.
I have gained research experience while working at the European Army Interoperability Centre in Brussels, where I focused on member states' interoperability and the EU's external role.
My interests revolve around geopolitics, EU Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), and NATO defence, with a geographical focus on the Euro-Atlantic region and the Middle East, specifically Syria.
Driven by empathy and an unwavering determination for positive change, I am prepared to continue shaping discussions and actions in the field of international security and defence.
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NATO sicurezza internazionale difesa guerra russia-ucraina Cina Unione Europea geostrategia Charles Michel Jens Stoltenberg