Strategic autonomy

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Strategic autonomy is the ability of a state to pursue its national interests and adopt its preferred foreign policy without being so much depended on the other foreign state or manipulated by other foreign states.[1]

In European context, Strategic autonomy is the ability of the European Union to defend Europe and act militarily in its neighborhood without so much reliance on the United States.[2]

Background[]

A first reference to strategic autonomy in the discussions of the European council of ministers can be dated back to December 2013. The European Council called for the development of European defense capabilities to enhance the strategic autonomy of the European Union.[3]

In 2016 strategic autonomy became part of the European Union Global Strategy doctrine to improve the defense capabilities of the European Union, including the setting up of a European Defence Fund established in 2017. Strategic autonomy became central to the European Commission led by Ursula von der Leyen, who stated her intention to have a “geopolitical commission.”[4] Members of the Von der Leyen Commission including Josep Borrell and Thierry Breton claim that Europe's soft power needs to be complemented by a harder power dimension.[5]

Initially the concept of the European strategic autonomy has been inspired and by France, which advocated for this strategy at the European Union's level.[6] Strategic autonomy has however developed into a broader concept that includes economic, energy and digital policy.[7] and initiatives such as GAIA-X. European Union Member States, such as Germany, display different preferences than France when it comes to the priorities of a strategic autonomy policy. [8] Strategic autonomy expanded to the digital policy of the European Union with an objective to ascertain European sovereignty against China.[9]

Strategic autonomy in the post-Trump era[]

Strategic autonomy was a priority in European defense policy during the presidency of Donald Trump in the United States, seen as an unreliable partner by the European Union.[10] The goal of strategic autonomy is however not to act alone militarily, and the European Union can be characterized as non-interventionist in nature.[11] The election of Joe Biden in the United States brought expectations of a Euro-Atlantic unity that has to be reconciled with the strategic autonomy of the European Union.[12] The election of Joe Biden has brought discord between France and Germany over the future of European defense and strategic autonomy.[13]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Aravind Devanathan asked: What is 'strategic autonomy'? How does it help India's security? | Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses". idsa.in. Retrieved 2021-12-04.
  2. ^ Erlanger, Steven (May 23, 2020). "European Defense and 'Strategic Autonomy' Are Also Coronavirus Victims". The New York Times. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
  3. ^ "Conclusions of the European Council of 19/20 December 2013" (PDF). European Council. December 20, 2013. Retrieved December 27, 2020. Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  4. ^ Erlanger, Steven (March 12, 2020). "Coronavirus Tests Europe's Cohesion, Alliances and Even Democracy". The New York Times. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
  5. ^ Blockmans, Steven (September 15, 2020). "Why the EU needs a geopolitical Commission". Centre for European Policy Studies. Retrieved December 27, 2020. Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  6. ^ Pagoulatos, George (November 30, 2020). "Strategic autonomy for Europe in the post-Trump era". Kathimerini. Retrieved December 27, 2020. Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  7. ^ "Europe on a Power Trip - Transcript". EU Scream. November 9, 2020. Retrieved December 26, 2020. Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  8. ^ Tamma, Paola (November 30, 2020). "Europe wants 'strategic autonomy' — it just has to decide what that means". Politico. Retrieved October 15, 2020. Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  9. ^ Grüll, Philipp (September 11, 2020). "'Geopolitical' Europe aims to extend its digital sovereignty from China". EURACTIV. Retrieved December 27, 2020. Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  10. ^ Cañas, Gabriela (December 17, 2020). "Borrell: Trump has awakened us from strategic sleepwalking". EURACTIV. Retrieved December 27, 2020. Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  11. ^ "Europe on a Power Trip - Transcript". EU Scream. November 9, 2020. Retrieved December 26, 2020. Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  12. ^ Pagoulatos, George (November 30, 2020). "Strategic autonomy for Europe in the post-Trump era". Kathimerini. Retrieved December 27, 2020. Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  13. ^ Erlanger, Steven (November 24, 2020). "As Trump Exits, Rifts in Europe Widen Again". The New York Times. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
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