Defending Europe

For decades, European security has depended mainly on NATO, under-written by America. But under the Trump White House, the spectre of US disengagement threatens to leave the EU without its protector. To ensure continued American support, members have promised a 5% defence spending target. But with only 3 of the 32 NATO members meeting the new 3.5% goal, how realistic is this? Is – as Spain maintains – this target “not only unreasonably but also counterproductive”? We investigate the main threats facing Europe and examine how Europe can best defend itself.

The NATO alliance, born just after the Second World War, on the ruins of the deadliest conflict Europe has ever known, aimed to protect European countries against the Soviet Union. But when the Soviet Union fell in 1991, the need for major investment in defence seemed to collapse with it. The European dream of a world without war seems to be coming true, enabling budgets to be diverted to social spending. Europe’s defence was essentially entrusted to America.

But today Europe is facing the greatest security challenges since the Cold War. In the East, Russia seeks to exploit and increase divisions within the EU through disinformation campaigns and the cultivation of right wing populist movements. Its full-scale invasion of Ukraine is reshaping the borders of Europe and threatening Poland, the Baltic states and Nordic Countries. War in the Middle East has generated instability and contributed to the rise of extremism. Meanwhile, further afield, China poses a looming political and economic threat.

How can we get out of this situation? Do we have a defence industry capable of ensuring our sovereignty? And what do we mean by sovereignty?