Finding a Role: The United Kingdom and European Collective Security Post-Brexit
Abstract
The United Kingdoms departure from the European Union raises important questions concerning the UKs future role in European collective defense and security. For the UK, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is the bedrock of British and European defense and security, and the UKs commitment to NATO remains resolute. As a member of the EU, the UK played a key role in developing the EUs Common Security and Defense Policy (CSDP) while simultaneously ensuring that the CSDP did not duplicate NATOs approach. However, the UK can no longer directly influence or shape EU security and defense policy. The EU has accelerated its efforts to achieve strategic autonomy, and has signed a joint declaration with NATO to improve collaboration on defense and security matters. The UK and the EU acknowledge shared values and interests and face the same regional threats. Although the UKs 2021 National Security Strategy signals the UKs intent to tilt to the Indo-Pacific, it maintains the primacy of the UKs commitment to NATO for European collective defense and security. The UK intends to adopt an ad hoc approach to collaborating with the EU on security matters, while strengthening bilateral ties with several EU members, including France, Germany, Italy, and Poland, and maintaining multilateral initiatives such as the Joint Expeditionary Force. Formalizing the UK's security relationship with the EU, although likely to remain politically unacceptable in the UK in the near-term, will enable the UK to demonstrate its commitment to European collective defense and security.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 27, 2021
- Accession Number
- AD1153976
Entities
People
- Adrian R. Thompson
Organizations
- National Defense University