An ECFR report explains that no European initiative designed to promote strategic nuclear autonomy is currently practicable…
Europe has not just outsourced its own safety, it has done the same with its strategic vision on the matter. In spite of the growing climate of insecurity, Europeans don’t seem prepared to update their own understanding of nuclear deterrence.
The term “Strategic Autonomy” shall continue to be an empty concept so long as Europe doesn’t seriously address the nuclear issue. It could be done, but so long as the EU doesn’t take into account the nuclear aspect of its autonomy, it shall still believe in the military superiority of Russia, especially if deprived of nuclear backing from the US. The absence of a European deterrent could be a fatal mistake.
According to an ECFR report edited by Manuel Lafont Rapnouil, Tara Varma and Nick Witney, no European initiative designed to promote strategic nuclear autonomy is currently practicable, desirable or even conceivable. However a plan to respond to these major future uncertainties is already available: the United Kingdom and France could transform the idea of European deterrence from a simple notion to a credible prerogative, by reinforcing bilateral cooperation in area of nuclear deployment and stating their readiness to provide cover for others with greater conviction.
A FEW FIGURES:
Main warning dossiers for EU member states on the nuclear issue: North Korea and nuclear power, Russia and nuclear power, nuclear power and radiological terrorism, accidental use of nuclear weapons.
Main Italian concerns with regard to nuclear power: nuclear weapons to North Korea.
EU member states that are totally engaged in the nuclear dossier: France, United Kingdom, Poland, Romania.
EU member states that are neutral with regard to the nuclear issue: Ireland, Austria, Malta, Cyprus, Finland.
EU member states with a ‘pragmatic’ stance towards the nuclear issue: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Belgium, Italy.
EU member states with “an internal conflict” on nuclear issues due to strong activism by civil society: Sweden, Holland, Germany.
EU member states that are in agreement on the nuclear issue: Croatia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary, Greece, Denmark, Luxembourg, Spain, Portugal.
@ECFRRoma
This article is also published in the March/April issue of eastwest.
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An ECFR report explains that no European initiative designed to promote strategic nuclear autonomy is currently practicable…
Main warning dossiers for EU member states on the nuclear issue: North Korea and nuclear power, Russia and nuclear power, nuclear power and radiological terrorism, accidental use of nuclear weapons.
