After Afghanistan and AUKUS: What Next for European Defence?

Summary:

The US withdrawal from Afghanistan and the subsequent announcement of the AUKUS submarine deal should show Europeans three things. First, the US is re-orienting its foreign policy away from Europe and focusing on the Indo-Pacific region and China. Second, European military operations remain painfully dependent on US military capabilities and decisions. And third, the Biden administration is not interested in the views of its European allies: it informs them of its decisions, but it does not consult them in advance. The question is what lessons Europe should draw from these events.

• Primary Source

• Alternative Source

Official

General Secretariat of the Council: Policies: EU cooperation on security and defence https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/defence-security/

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ESO Records

Cardiff EDC: 2021: State of the European Union (SOTEU) 2021 https://www.europeansources.info/record/state-of-the-european-union-soteu-2021/

CER Policy Brief: May 2021: EU Foreign, Security and Defence Policy Co-operation with Neighbours: Mapping Diversity https://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-foreign-security-and-defence-policy-co-operation-with-neighbours-mapping-diversity/

General Secretariat of the Council: May 10th 2021: Council Conclusions on Security and Defence https://www.europeansources.info/record/council-conclusions-on-security-and-defence/

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