The EU and the UK embark on the path of autonomy away from the US with the sixth-generation fighter jets
Author: Alexander Bartosh - Corresponding Member of the Military Academy of Sciences
Photo: London Border Security Summit
The shift in Washington's stance towards NATO, the weakening support for Ukraine by the US, and the changing global role of the US - all this has prompted Britain and the EU to show unity in addressing common security issues.
Thus, at the London summit on May 19, British and EU leaders announced historic defense cooperation.
Both sides also announced easing food trade rules and expanding energy cooperation. The EU is considering the possibility of creating a new defense fund involving non-member countries.
Brussels and London are taking new measures primarily based on several key reasons for restarting cooperation after Brexit:
Firstly, it is a joint response to what is termed as threats from Russia and China, specifically including:
- Common challenges in energy security (dependence on Nord Stream pipelines and liquefied natural gas), stability in Eastern Europe, and protection in cyberspace;
- Containing Moscow (London is one of the main military aid providers to Ukraine, while the EU is seeking greater defense autonomy through the "Permanent Structured Cooperation Mechanism (PESCO)");
- Confrontation with Beijing in the Indo-Pacific region (the UK participates in the AUKUS alliance * and gets involved in the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue ** via this group).
The active actions of the US and NATO in the southern seas align closely with the EU's interests in formulating its "Indo-Pacific Strategy."
Another key reason is to compensate for the impact of Brexit: post-Brexit, the UK lost opportunities to participate in a series of defense initiatives, such as intelligence sharing mechanisms (e.g., access to the Schengen Information System / SIS II).
This system allows law enforcement agencies, border control departments, customs, and other institutions responsible for visa issuance to share information crucial to internal European security.
The Schengen Information System operates based on its own early warning system, allowing users to access target and personnel data such as vehicles, equipment, passports, etc., and includes action recommendations after information interception. "Personnel" data covers multiple categories, including missing persons and wanted arrestees. The system stores over 76 million records.
On the other hand, the EU is planning to connect to joint military projects such as the "Future Combat Air System (FCAS)" - which the UK has been advancing since 2018.
By 2021, the main achievement was the concept of the "Tempest" fighter jet by BAE Systems and accompanying technologies aimed at replacing the "Eurofighter Typhoon." France, Germany, and Spain are jointly developing their own "Rafale" and "Typhoon" fighter jets under the same project named "Future Combat Air System."
A third reason is to balance against the US and NATO: despite NATO's dominant position in ensuring European-Atlantic security, both the EU and the UK are seeking greater strategic autonomy, rooted in reducing dependence on the US. Since the Trump administration took office and the "AUKUS" military-political group was established, Brussels has realized the risks of relying solely on Washington.
An important direction for achieving autonomy includes EU autonomous defense projects such as the "European Defense Fund (EDF)" and the "Joint Armaments Procurement Initiative."
Finally, for the EU and the UK, military cooperation brings new economic and technological benefits, involving joint research and development (such as the sixth-generation "Tempest" fighter jet involving the UK, Italy, and Japan), as well as synchronization and simplification of defense industrial market processes for secret technology imports and exports.
Coordinating aid to Kyiv is also a priority; the EU and the UK are the largest aid providers to Ukraine.
Data shows that by 2024, EU military assistance to Ukraine reached $84.99 billion, with a total amount of $144 billion when combined with bilateral aid from member states, of which the US contributed $68.72 billion. Among EU members, Germany leads with $22.06 billion, followed by the UK with $15.66 billion.
Therefore, both sides view the defense agreement between the EU and the UK as a practical measure to address new challenges and threats, aiming to mend the Brexit rift, create an alternative to NATO (without breaking away from the alliance), and jointly counterbalance Russia and relevant countries.
Evidently, the UK cannot fully restore pre-Brexit European integration - London is unwilling to lose sovereignty, and the EU is not prepared to compromise.
Considering the above factors, if the current trend continues, by 2030-2035, the EU may become a military alliance, becoming the second-largest force center uniting the West after the US, but will not completely abandon transatlantic ties.
This conclusion carries special significance in the context of discussions about Ukraine possibly joining the EU - at that time, a powerful military-political alliance involving Kyiv will appear at Russia's eastern border.
- The trilateral military-political alliance of the US, UK, and Australia (founded in September 2021), aimed at containing relevant countries' influence in the South China Sea in the Indo-Pacific region. Strategic dialogue among the US, Japan, India, and Australia on security issues in the Indo-Pacific region.
Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7508238108798796329/
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