Perspectives on the Western European Development and Its Impact on the Relationship to the United States of America
Abstract
This paper analyzes the future development of Western Europe and evaluates its possible impact on the relationship to the United States of America (U.S.). A European Union (EU) integrating into a confederation of sovereign states and a slow enlargement will characterize the European development. NATO likewise will continue enlargement but the pace and size are still unclear. The U.S.' and Western Europe's shared interests of security and European prosperity endures but they have diverse perceptions of the threat and strategies. European security has lost its primacy in the relationship and introduced opportunities for a review of U.S. and European strategies. The development of the EU will not change the current cooperative transatlantic relationship in the near or mid term but cause some challenges, mainly economic, for the U.S.. Increased economic competition between Western Europe and the U.S. combined with unilateral strategies can in the longer-term result in global multipolarity with greater risk of tension or conflict endangering regional/global security and prosperity. A stronger integration of EU will further increase the risk. The transatlantic financial and trade ties will moderate such developments. The proposed way ahead is a cooperative strategy in both the U.S. and Europe.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 2002
- Accession Number
- ADA404624
Entities
People
- Peter H. Lund
Organizations
- United States Army War College