NATO could evolve into two autonomous military pillars: “We can no longer count on Americans to defend Europe”

“The message of the Americans is clear. Nevertheless, we can no longer count on their conventional capacities (armed means except nuclear elements, editor’s note) to defend Europe”, underlines Sven Biscop, director of the program “Europe around the world” at the Egmont Institute. Moreover, “The problem is that Europe is lagging behind in many areas such as intelligence, troop transport, communication networks …”

The expert therefore firmly believes in the relevance of a European defense project, but still registering within NATO. Consequently, “Europeans need to pool their means to acquire certain technologies, it is undeniable,” said the professor. Furthermore, “The European Union also has an important role to play by implementing an industrial defense policy.”

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“NATO should be composed of two militarily complete packages of force”

For Sven Biscop. Meanwhile, the Atlantic Alliance will not be able to regain all its deterrent capacity only to reorganize in two autonomous pillars on all levels, which is far from being the case currently: “NATO should be composed of two full, autonomous and interoperable force packages in the event of need. In addition, Article 5 would obviously be application.”

This reorganization would be a way to access the wish to disengage from the European continent hammered. with insistence by the Trump administration. The latter indeed wants to concentrate its means on Indo-Pacific where China continues to extend its area of ​​influence.

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“If we remain militarily dependent on the United States, this administration will decrease its contributions to NATO. nato could evolve two autonomous If. on the contrary, we build military autonomy, the United States will say: now they can defend themselves, so we can reduce our contribution to NATO. Whatever we do, they will reduce their commitment,” summarizes the expert. The latter believes that the American authorities will not backtrack, whether democrats or republican.

The question of European nuclear umbrella. currently provided by the United States (except for France and the United Kingdom with nuclear weapons) remains a major unknown. French President Emmanuel Macron recently opened the possibility that France ensures the nuclear protection of its European allies. provided that the protected countries are getting their hands on the portfolio and that the final decision always returns to the President of the French Republic. A project still very theoretical, according to Sven Biscop. “It is much more urgent for Europe to devote its expenses to conventional defense. Nuclear deterrence is useless nato could evolve two autonomous if there is no means of defense at the lower level. It is necessary to have all the capacity ranges.”