The narrow but inescapable path of the European pillar of NATO

The strategic context in which Europeans find themselves makes it imperative to put in place mechanisms to strengthen their ability to defend themselves, i.e. without major support from the Americans, or perhaps even alone. Admittedly, the United States is still indispensable today, but the prevailing trend in its positioning, well beyond Donald Trump, is to withdraw from the European scene.

In this debate, the idea that Europeans must develop a European pillar within NATO is taking shape: at a time when the Americans are questioning the strength of their commitment to the Atlantic Alliance, Europeans must take over, asserting themselves politically and operationally within NATO to compensate for the withdrawal of those who until recently ensured the credibility of the pact.

So what are the strengths and characteristics of a European pillar within NATO? How can it be achieved, and how can it coordinate European and transatlantic frameworks for action? And what kind of political and operational difficulties will its implementation face?

The European pillar of NATO is presented here as a possible response to both the planned withdrawal of American forces and the long-term Russian threat. It offers strategic advantages, as it should provide Europeans with the means to exercise their own sovereignty. It is a path to emancipation, now recognised as essential by the vast majority of Europeans.

However, the implementation of a European pillar of NATO is not without its difficulties, as have been all previous attempts to assert a European identity in the field of
defence. Whether it be European hesitation to ‘kill the father’, the industrial stakes of the transatlantic link or the difficult coordination of the institutional frameworks involved, there are many obstacles on the path to greater European sovereignty.