Mykhailo SamusFrench President Macron’s statement about the possibility of using the French military to help Ukraine caused a strong reaction in Europe, Ukraine, and the aggressor country. But, in fact, these are not frivolous words of the French president, but evidence of serious processes that are taking place in Europe.
Against the backdrop of increasing U.S. isolation, the issue of Europe’s strategic autonomy is gaining existential importance.
The idea of strategic autonomy belongs to President Macron. And once upon a time, this concept caused a lot of skepticism. So did the long-standing dream of a single European army.
A few years ago, the discussion of European independence in security and defense was considered a purely theoretical matter. Europeans delegated collective defense functions to NATO. The EU was more engaged in soft security, perhaps more for symbolic purposes than to fulfill tasks to protect the stability of the European continent.
Moreover, each European country was very jealous of sovereignty issues in making decisions on the use of national armed forces. Each use of national contingent outside the country required decision-making according to the internal procedure of each country.
Therefore, the idea of a unified command, unified intelligence, unified satellite grouping, and unified targeting system was discussed only at the level of expert discussions. However, at the political level, the concept of a unified European army was not supported. And national defense budgets were often spent with duplication of expenditures on similar weapons programs, and weapons and military equipment were purchased without taking into account the possibility of joint planning and sharing of the same type of aircraft, helicopters, ships or missiles.
Russia’s full-scale aggression has radically changed the situation. Gradually, Europeans realized that the war against Ukraine is also a war against them. And the potential withdrawal of the United States from the Euro-Atlantic security architecture may mean that Europe will have to counteract Russia and its Putinist inadequacies on its own.
Moreover, a very likely scenario is that the United States will abandon its nuclear cover for Europe. US self-isolation could lead to a decision to withdraw the nuclear umbrella over Europe. And then the EU will have to consider its own nuclear deterrent.
In this regard, Macron’s statement about the possible deployment of troops to Ukraine may have a more strategic basis than it may seem. Europe’s strategic autonomy and the construction of a new European system are just beginning. And it starts with helping Ukraine. We can be sure that after the victory over Russia, Ukraine will become an important member of a single European army. With unique experience and unique military technologies. But the main thing is happening right now. Europeans are uniting around the process of helping Ukraine. As a result, Europeans will become united in their security motives and aspirations. It is this Europe that will be able to destroy Putin’s regime and Putin’s empire. Europe with a joint army and strategic autonomy.