[...] Due to the existence of radically different and incompatible threat perceptions, strategic cultures within the EU, and the evident reinforcement of US and NATO’s role in European security and defence [...]; the EU is still far away from being united and achieving strategic autonomy. Summary Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 led to a further rise in the debate around Europe’s security architecture, policy, and capabilities. Despite the narrative built and embraced by the EU and most of its member states’ governments depicting the union’s response as consistent, virtuous, effective, and unified; the former has not developed and has lacked relevant and real geopolitical power and still lies quite behind in its objective of achieving strategic autonomy. Introduction In the last few years, there has been a general recognition within EU institutions and most EU Member States that greater integration of national defence strategies, forces, and capabilities is ...
