NATO's New Strategic Concept of June 2022 and ‎Europe’s Security‎

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Associate Professor, Department‏ ‏of Regional Studies, Faculty of Law and ‎Political Science, University of Tehran, Iran.

2 Assistant Professor, Research Institute for Strategic Studies, Tehran, Iran. ‎

Abstract

Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, and the outbreak of the ensuing crisis, have had important security consequences for the international system and particularly for the security environment of the European Union. Since the end of World War II, it is the first time that the European countries feel the shadow of war in this continent. In fact, this crisis has intensified Europeans' efforts to strengthen their defense capabilities. For instance, Germany has promised for the first time to fulfill its NATO commitment to allocate 2% of its GDP to the defense of the military alliance members. Moreover, the drafting of two key documents, (i.e., Strategic Compass of the European Union, and New Strategic Concept of NATO) shows significant determination to strengthen the capabilities of European countries. The publication of NATO's new strategic concept document of June 2022—which is considered the eighth strategic document of this organization since its establishment in 1949— indicates fundamental changes in the European security environment and a change in the threat perception in NATO, which is showing a tendency to return to the long-standing tradition of deterrence and defense.
Notable changes resulting in a range of policies include the following: First, in the previous strategic concept of NATO at the Lisbon Summit of 2010, it was announced that the Euro-Atlantic region is peaceful and the threat of a conventional attack on NATO territories is low, but in the new strategic concept, it is said that the Euro-Atlantic is no longer in peace and the possibility of endangering the territorial integrity and sovereignty of NATO  members  should  not be ignored.  Second, the  Lisbon  summit sought to establish a strategic partnership with Russia, while in the latest document Russia is considered the most serious threat to the security, stability, and peace of the Euro-Atlantic. Third, China was not mentioned in the Lisbon strategic concept in 2010, however in the new document, Beijing is described as a systematic challenge to Euro-Atlantic security. In addition, the deepening of the Moscow-Beijing strategic partnership can be a threat to this organization. Finally, it is stated in the new document that the hybrid operations against this organization can reach the level of an armed attack, thus activating the NATO’s Article 5, which specifies that “[t]he Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all”. In sum, regardless of the outcome of the conflict in Ukraine, Russia will continue to be a long-term threat to European security.
While Russia's invasion of Ukraine has strengthened NATO in the short term, its long-term political cohesion is still an important concern for the political leadership in the mamber-states. Russia's action also reduced tensions between France, the United States, and the United Kingdom which had erupted after the formation of the AUKUS trilateral security pact for the Indo-Pacific region. After the initial phase of the unity of the European countries to confront the threat of Russia, the member states have shown little signs of agreeing on the future strategies. Apparently, they have moved back toward the old way of putting their national security above the collective security. As this conflict continues, the unity of the European Union will be tested. For instance, the Eastern member states of the Union tend to demand more military support for Ukraine and the tightening of sanctions against Russia. Conversely, the Western members of the Union are less willing to strengthen sanctions,  are against sending more weapons to Ukraine, are worried about the increase in tension between NATO and Russia and are unwilling to bear the economic costs of reducing access to the Russian energy sector. Most of the leaders of Western EU countries are thinking beyond deterrence and sanctions and are preoccupied with how to manage relations with Russia in the post-crisis era. The main challenge for European security in the coming years is to strengthen deterrence against Russia and at the same time deal with other security threats.
The focus of this research is to answer the following question: What will be the impact of the formulation of NATO's new strategic concept on the future of NATO-EU cooperation and European security? In the research hypothesis, it is argued that the changes in the EU perception of the Russian threat led to the formulation of the new EU strategic compass, and the emphasis on the role of NATO in European security which would strengthen NATO-EU relations at least in the short term and medium term. To test the hypothesis, the authors rely on the expert analysis offered by the analysts and researchers who have explained the consequences of the transformation of the EU and NATO's strategy for European security. Furthermore, the qualitative conceptual content analysis method is used to analyze the most important official documents of NATO and the European Union as well as the relevant policy statements made by the key government officials of the EU and NATO member-states. As expected, the findings of the research show that changes in the threat perception of the EU leadership which led to the formulation of the new NATO strategic concept have had a positive impact on the strengthening of NATO's role in European security

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

  1. References

    1. Arnold, Ed. (2022). “New Concepts but Old Problems: NATO’s New Strategic Concept,” The Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies, RUSI Commentary (rusi.org). Available at: https://www.rusi.org/explore-our-research/ public- ations/commentary/ new-concepts-old-problems-natos-new-strategic -concept (Accessed 22 August 2022).
    2. Bargues, P. (2022). “The EU Strategic Compass: A Blueprint for a European Defensive and Securitization Policy,” Istituto Affari Internazionali, IAI Joint Papers (iai.it). Available at: https://www.iai.it/en/pubblicazioni/eu-strategic-compass-blueprint-european-defensive-and-securitisation-policy (Accessed 22 August 2022).
    3. Binnendijk, H; Koster, T.S. (2022). “Now for the Hard Part: A Guide to Implementing NATO’s New Strategic Concept,” Atlantic Council (atlanticcouncil.org). Available at:  https://www. Atlantic- council.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/now-for-the-hard-part-a-guide-to-implementing-natos-new (Accessed 14 August 2022).
    4. Binnendijk, H; Hamilton, D.S; Vershbow, A. (2022). “Strategic Responsibility: Rebalancing European and trans-Atlantic Defense,” Brookings (brookings.edu). Available at: https://www.brookings. edu/articles/strategic-responsibility-rebalancing-european-and-trans-atlantic-defense (Accessed 11 August 2022).
    5. Bond, I; Scazzieri, L. (2022). “The EU, NATO and European Security in a Time of War,” Center for European Reform, Policy Brief (cer.eu). Available at: https://www.cer.eu/publications/ archive/policy-brief/2022/ eu-nato-and-european-security-time-war (Accessed 30 August 2022).
    1. Borrell, (2022a). twitter.com. Available at: https://twitter.com/ JosepBorrellF/status/1542519263365193738 (Accessed 25 January 2023).
    2. Borrell, J. (2022b). “Answer Given by High Representative/Vice-President Borrell i Fontelles on Behalf of the European Commission,” European Parliament (Europarl.europa.eu). Available at: https://www. europarl. europa.eu/doceo/document/P-9-2022-003903-ASW_EN.pdf (Accessed 25 January 2023).

    8. Carafano, J.J. (2022). “Why Sweden and Finland Joining NATO Makes Perfect Sense,” Heritage Foundation, Commentary (heritage.org). Available at: http://www.heritage.org/global-politics/ commentary/why-sweden-and-finland-joining-nato-makes-perfect-sense (Accessed 10 August 2022).

    1. Dempsey, J. (2023). “Judy Asks: Is European Strategic Autonomy Over?” Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Carnegie Europe (carnegieeurope.eu). Available at: https://carnegieeurope.eu/ strategiceurope/88838 (Accessed 11 August 2022).

    10. Dempsey, J. (2022). “NATO and the EU Need a Strategy for Eastern Europe,” Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Carnegie Europe (carnegieeurope.eu). Available at: https://carnegieeurope.eu/ strategiceurope/87257 (Accessed 15 August 2022).

    11. EUISS. (2021). “EU-NATO Cooperation and the Strategic Compass,” European Union Institute for Security Studies, EUISS (iss.europa.eu). Available at: https://www.iss.europa.eu/ sites/ default/files/EUISSFiles/SI-EUISS%20-%20EU-NATO%20 and %20 Compass%20-%20Final%20Report.pdf (Accessed 12 August 2022).

    12. European Parliament. (2022). “Outcome of the Madrid NATO Summit June,” European Parliamentary Research Service, At A Glance, (europarl.europa.eu). Available at: https://www.europarl. europa.eu/RegData/etudes/ATAG/2022/733604/EPRS_ATA(2022)733604_EN.pdf (Accessed 18 August 2022).

    1. European Union. (2022). “A Strategic Compass for Security and Defence,” EEAS (eeas.europa.eu). Available at: https://www.eeas. eu/sites/default/files/documents/strategic_compass_en3_web.pdf (Accessed 25 January 2023).

    14. Foy, H. (2022). “NATO to Increase Forces on High Alert to 300000,” Financial Times. Available at: http://www.ft.com/content/ 39caeff3-38cf-44e2-9270-835ab28f13c8 (Accessed 11 August 2022).

    15. Jakobsen, E; Bolstad, G. (2022). "NATO’s 2022 Strategic Concept– Change, Continuity and Implications," The Norwegian Institute of International Affairs, NUPI Policy Brief (nupi.no). Available at: https://www.nupi.no/en/news/nato-s-2022-strategic-concept-change-continuity-and-implications (Accessed 23 August 2022).

    16. Legucka, A. (2022). “Russia on NATO Enlargement to Sweden and Finland,” Polish Institute of International Affairs, PISM (pism.pl).  Available at: https://www.pism.pl/publications/russia-on-nato-enlargement-to-sweden-and-finland (Accessed 12 August 2022).

    17. Marinova, I. (2022). “Europe's Security and Defence Hour in Here, and the Longevity of the European Union Depends on it,” European Leadership Network, Commentary (europeanleadershipnet work. org). Available at: https://www. europeanleadershipnetwork. org/commentary/europes-security-and-defence-hour-is-here-a (Accessed 20 August 2022).

    18. Mattelaer, A. (2022). “Rethinking Nuclear Deterrence: A European Perspective,” Brussels school of Governance, Center for Security, Diplomacy and Strategy, CSDS Policy Brief, 13/2022 (brussels- school.be). Available at: https://brussels-school.be/sites/default/files/ CSDS%20Policy%20brief_2213.pdf (Accessed 22 August 2022).

    19. Mishra, V; Matthews, J.C. (2022). “NATO’s Eighth Strategic Concept: Changing Force Posture in Europe,” Observer Research Foundation (orfonline.org). Available at: https://www.orfonline.org/ expert-speak/natos-eighth-strategic-concept (Accessed 28 August 2022).

    20. Monaghan, S. (2022). “Resetting NATO’s Defense and Deterrence, The Sword and the Shield Redux,” Center for Strategic and International Studies, CSIS Analysis (csis.org). Available at: https:// www.csis.org/analysis/resetting-natos-defense-and-deterrence-sword -and-shield-redux (Accessed 18 August 2022).

    21. Mucznik, M. (2022). “The European (Geo) Political Community and Enlargement Reform Two Important but Separate Discussions,” European Policy Centre, EPC Commentary (epc.eu). Available at:  https://www.epc.eu/en/Publications/The-European-geopolitical-community-and-enlargement-reform~49e404 (Accessed 21 August 2022).

    1. (2023). “Joint Declaration on EU-NATO Cooperation,” NATO (nato.int). Available at: https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/ official_texts_210549.htm (Accessed 25 January 2023).
    2. (2022). “NATO 2022 Strategic Concept,” NATO (nato.int). Available at: https://www.nato.int/nato_static_fl2014/assets/pdf/ 2022/6/pdf/290622-strategic-concept.pdf (Accessed 20 December 2022).

    24.Ojanen, H. (2022). “NATO and the EU’s Strength Lies in Their Unity,” Carnegie Europe (carnegieeurope.eu). Available at: https://carnegieeurope.eu/strategiceurope/87403 (Accessed 12 August 2022).

    25.Perot, E (2022). “NATO, The EU and The Return of Collective Defence,” Brussels School of Governance (brussels- school.be). Available at: https://brussels-school.be/publications/policy-briefs/ nato-eu-and-return-collective-defence (Accessed 14 August 2022).

    26.Rodriguez, A.G. (2022). “EU Strategic Compass: The Right Direction for Europe?” Istituto per gli Studi di Politica Intern- azionale, ISPI (ispionline.it). Available at: https://www.ispionline.it/ en/pubblicazione/eu-strategic-compass-right-direction-europe-35453 (Accessed 16 August 2022).

    27.Scazzieri, L. (2022). “The EU’s Geopolitical Awakening?” Centre for European Reform, CER (cer.eu). Available at: https://www.cer. eu/in-the-press/eus-geopolitical-awakening (Accessed 22 August 2022).

    28.Solana, J. (2022). “European Security after NATO’s Madrid Summit,”  Brookings (brookings.edu). Available at: https://www. brookings.edu/blog/order-from-chaos/2022/06/24/ european-security-after-natos-madrid-summit (Accessed 23 August 2022).

    1. Stoltenberg, J. (2023a). “Opening Remarks by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the Munich Security Conference session ''Beyond the Alliance: Partnering up for European Security,'' NATO. Available at: https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/ opinions_ 212041. htm (Accessed 28 March 2023).

    30.Stoltenberg, J. (2023b). “Joint Press Point with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba and the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell,”  (nato.int) Available at: https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/ opinions_ 211480. htm (Accessed 28 March 2023).

    31.Von Der Leyen, U. (2023). “Nato EU Activity,” (mt.linkedin.com). Available at: https://mt.linkedin.com/posts/ursula-von-der-leyen_ nato-eu-activity-7018552529990881281-I9la (Accessed 25 January 2023).

    32.Youngs, R. (2022). “The Awakening of Geopolitical Europe?” Carnegie Europe (carnegieeurope.eu). Available at: https:// carnegieeurope.eu/2022/07/28/awakening-of-geopolitical-europe-pub-87580 (Accessed 22 August 2022).

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 22 January 2023
  • Revise Date: 16 March 2023
  • Accept Date: 24 April 2023

Share

How to cite

Statistics