Velina Tchakarova Sofia Maria Satanakis FOKUS | 4/2020 EU – NATO Relations: Enhanced Cooperation Amidst Increased Uncertainty Introduction Article 5 commitment. Being a historically criticized by the Alliance. Furthermore, distant NATO member, France announced President Erdoğan repeatedly threatened Since 1949, the North Atlantic Treaty its commitment to enhance European to reject defence plans for Poland and the Organization (NATO) has been the main strategic autonomy, while pushing for a Baltics, if NATO did not classify the Kurdish framework for European security based on fundamental debate on the future of the YPG militia as a terrorist organization. the principle of collective defence.1 Despite Transatlantic Alliance. More recently, the opening of Turkey’s occasional tensions between some of the borders to the EU brought a new influx of European NATO members and US President During the two-day Summit, the Allies migrants to Greece, leading to renewed Donald Trump in recent years, the coopera- discussed the following topics: tensions between the two neighbors. Thus, tion between the European Union (EU) and the NATO-Turkey relationship has reached NATO has been deepened with unprece- China was put on the agenda, as Secre- a new low, a situation that especially dented speed and scope on an institutional tary General Jens Stoltenberg stressed Russia could benefit from. The majority level, which has an overall stabilizing effect the need for NATO to fully recognize the of NATO countries agreed that Russia on the transatlantic relationship. Under the country’s growing influence in Europe, Af- continues to pose an existential threat to Trump administration, the USA has increa- rica and the Arctic. Therefore, the London transatlantic security, which is why Secre- sed contributions to the Alliance, proving Declaration spoke of both “opportunities tary General Stoltenberg pleaded for unity that European members have not lost their and challenges” in relation to China.4 For towards Moscow once again. importance to Washington. the first time, the People’s Republic was characterized as a potential strategic The climate factor is also playing an incre- Against this background, the paper seeks threat to the West. In particular, the USA asingly important role in security policy to present an overall view of the latest is pressing for Chinese tech giant Huawei debates, as it could lead to renewed migra- trends and developments considering the to be excluded from the expansion of the tion flows, as well as novel security threats Transatlantic Alliance, as well as potential telecommunications infrastructure on the in various areas. In this regard, Norway’s implications on the future cooperation old continent. In this regard, NATO’s main prime minister, Erna Solberg, referred between the EU and NATO under the im- task would be to assess possible risks and among others to the lack of water facili- pact of the Covid-19 virus outbreak. find ways to maintain communications tating the rise of extremist movements in should (in line with American concerns) areas such as Mali and Burkina Faso, and NATO Summit in London cyber-attacks take place. The Alliance also stressed that NATO should submit itself reaffirmed the need to adjust its political to an intensive discussion on the security The London Summit in December 2019 orientation in the Far East and to continue implications of climate change. proved to be of particular importance, as it to monitor China’s military rise. However, marked the Alliance’s 70th anniversary. On due to the diverging interests of NATO The debate on financial burden-sharing this occasion, the Allies sought to demons- members towards Beijing, an effective and within NATO remains one of the most trate their unity as well as NATO’s sound coherent China policy could prove to be controversial items on the transatlan- functionality. The Summit, however, came difficult and Europe may eventually see tic agenda and is almost as old as the about at a delicate time for the Alliance itself confronted with a risky balancing act Alliance itself. Numerous US presidents and was overshadowed by major differen- between the USA and China. used to criticize the low contributions of ces and disagreements. It took place in the the European members of the Alliance midst of the UK’s turbulent exit from the Although NATO would undoubtedly be long before President Trump took office, EU (Brexit) and, at the same time, President weaker without Turkey, the country also and as a result of Brexit, 80 percent of the Trump was confronted with an impeach- poses a major source of insecurity: The Alliance’s defence expenditures will now ment inquiry at home.2 In addition, ahead gas dispute between Turkey, Cyprus, and come from non-EU countries.5 Therefore, of the Summit, President Macron sharply Greece could potentially escalate, leading the need for increased defence spending criticized NATO’s functionality by clai- to a deadlock situation which will have a was an important topic of discussion at the ming that the Alliance was experiencing negative impact on EU-NATO relations. London Summit. ‘brain-death’.3 According to him, the USA is The purchase of the Russian Triumph air becoming increasingly unreliable as a gu- defence system S-400 and Turkey’s military Despite the initial differences, the London arantor of European security, as is NATO’s actions in northern Syria were also heavily Declaration acknowledged the unprece- 1 EU – NATO Relations FOKUS | 4/2020 dented progress of EU-NATO cooperation ordinated the transport of supplies across defence-related issues is underlined time and reaffirmed both the strong transat- the member states using two additional and again. lantic bond between Europe and North programs – the Strategic Airlift Capability America, as well as the commitment to and Strategic Airlift International Solution Before the London Summit, Stoltenberg Article 5 on collective defence. (SALIS).9 announced that in 2019, defence spen- ding across European Allies and Canada NATO and the response to the Covid-19 Obviously, existing EU and NATO struc- increased in real terms by 4.6%, making virus outbreak tures and mechanisms were applied this the fifth consecutive year of growth.13 to coordinate logistical, transport, and He also revealed that by the end of 2020, No country was spared from the spread medical help to the member states. Both those Allies will have invested $130 billion of the Covid-19 virus to Europe and North the EU and NATO recognized the need for more since 2016, and while in 2017 only America and various NATO members, such cooperation and coordination, in order to five Allies reached the two-percent-target, as the USA, UK, Italy, and Spain, were most create synergies through complementary meanwhile the number increased to heavily affected in terms of infection and capabilities and launch a pool of adequate nine countries: the USA, Greece, Bulgaria, death rates. Secretary General Stoltenberg resources based on the best practices and Romania, Poland, the UK and the Baltics. addressed the dire situation and the seve- experiences in each of the organizations. However, as a consequence of the current re economic consequences of Covid-19, One of their main tasks was the transpor- Covid-19 crisis, European defence bud- while stressing the important role of NATO tation of patients to countries with free gets are in danger of being (once more) during the pandemic outbreak.6 Further- hospital capacities, as well as medical per- severely cut – a repetition of what had more, Stoltenberg called on NATO member sonnel and supplies. Repatriation flights happened after the financial crisis in 2008. states to adhere to their commitments to for citizens of the EU and NATO members Nowadays, armed forces in most Euro- military spending despite the economic were also conducted. In this context, the pean countries are still in the process of shock caused by Covid-19. A main argu- pandemic revealed existing gaps in their recovering from the damage done in those ment for maintaining the membership fees coordinated responses but also highligh- years, and considering that the range of is the increasingly important role of the ted “both the need for and the potential of security challenges currently facing Euro- military in containing pandemics. Howe- NATO-EU cooperation.”10 pe is broader and more complex than ten ver, the commitment to spend $400 billion years ago, it would be ill-advised to slow more by the mid-20s will likely be tested in Implications for the EU’s Common Security down this repair and modernisation cycle the aftermath of the Covid-19 crisis.7 and Defence Policy by a new round of defence budget cuts. The Alliance, like other international orga- Current developments confirm that NATO It is also necessary for Europe to conti- nizations, had to take preventive measures remains the most important collective de- nue its efforts towards a more balanced to minimise the risk of further infection. fence organization for European security. burden-sharing within NATO. A new During the Covid-19 crisis, NATO initiated In its annual report on the implementati- formula for sharing these costs was agreed an active exchange between the Allies and on of the Common Foreign and Security with the USA and Germany covering 16% boosted coordination with the European Policy (CFSP)11, the European Parliament of NATO’s budget respectively starting in partners. The Alliance had its own medical stressed the importance of the Transat- 2021.14 Furthermore, the Trump admi- personnel at disposal and was strictly lantic Alliance, while expressing concerns nistration considerably increased the US monitoring the potential Covid-19 impact about the USA’s withdrawal from the outlays for military operations in Europe on NATO forces in international operations. multilateral world order. The report advo- within the framework of the European De- Despite the pandemic, the work of the cates for strengthening the EU’s capacity terrence Initiative (EDI).