Rethinking strategic sovereignty: narratives and priorities for Europe after Russia's attack on Ukraine

Abstract

The Russian war of aggression against Ukraine is forcing Europeans into a confron­tational security order. This also makes European strategic sovereignty - in defence policy, but also in economics, technology, energy policy, and institutional framework - a more significant goal for the European Union (EU). Until now, however, a central narrative has been that the EU must be able to act autonomously without the United States (US). In the new security environment, the primary aim of strategic sovereignty should be protecting EU member states and asserting common European interests. For the foreseeable future, however, the Union remains confronted with a fundamental dilemma that can only be attenuated but not fully resolved: In Europe's new con­frontational security order, its strategic dependence on the US is likely to grow, while America's long-term alliance commitments remain fraught with question marks. Stra­tegic sovereignty must therefore include the pursuit of Europe's collective defence capability in close cooperation and coordination with the EU and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). (author's abstract)