Is it Possible to Establish a European Army?: Understanding Historical Experience and a Vision for the Future

Abstract

The cycle between war and peace in European history has reinforced the intellectual structure and actions of realism irreversibly for European states. The EU model opposed this realist approach and made peace possible among the member states. In this respect, the EU fulfilled its function successfully as a security system. However, the EU could not show the same success in establishing a supranational European Defence Community or a European army. Regarding this failure, the article claims that the main reasons caused the failed attempt of the idea of a European army during the Cold War has remained relatively unchanged in the post-Cold War era. To explain this claim, in this article, the emergence of the idea of a European army will be examined based on the common threat faced by Europe after WWII. In addition, the main difficulties in implementing the idea, and the developments in this subject will be examined based on the problematic attitude of France in particular. Subsequently, a detailed answer will be sought based on integration, security, military issues, foreign relations and especially sovereignty to the question of why an autonomous and operational European army couldn’t be established both in the Cold War and post-Cold War era and do the EU nations want a European army indeed. Finally, a future prediction will be made about a European army by taking into account the current developments in international relations, Brexit, relations of the EU with the U.S. and NATO and the lessons learned from the historical process.

Keywords

• European Union
• European Defence Community
• Western European Union
• NATO
• CSDP

Bir Avrupa Ordusu Kurmak Mümkün mü?: Tarihsel Tecrübeyi Anlamak ve Bir Gelecek Öngörüsü

Abstract

Avrupa tarihinde görülen savaş ve barış arasındaki döngü, siyasal gerçekliğin beraberinde getirdiği düşünce yapısını ve eylemleri, Avrupalı devletler için geri döndürülemez bir biçimde pekiştirmiştir. Avrupa Birliği modeli, bahsi geçen siyasal gerçeklik anlayışına karşı çıkarak üye olan devletler arasında barışı mümkün kılmış ve bir güvenlik sistemi olarak işlevini yerine getirerek başarılı olmuştur. Ancak Avrupa Birliği üyesi ülkeler, aynı başarıyı uluslarüstü bir Avrupa Savunma Topluluğu’nun veya bir Avrupa ordusunun kurulması noktasında gösterememiştir. Bu başarısızlığa ilişkin olarak makale Soğuk Savaş sırasında bir Avrupa ordusu fikrinin başarısızlığa uğramasına neden olan ana sorunların, Soğuk Savaş sonrası dönemde de göreli olarak değişmediği iddiasındadır. Bu iddianın açıklanabilmesi için makalede öncelikle Avrupa ordusu fikrinin düşünsel olarak ortaya çıkışı, II. Dünya Savaşı sonrasında Batı Avrupa’nın yüzleştiği ortak tehdit temelinde incelenecektir. Ayrıca Avrupa ordusu fikrinin uygulanmasında karşılaşılan temel zorluklar ve burada yaşanan gelişmeler, özellikle Fransa’nın sorunlu tutumu temelinde ele alınacaktır. Akabinde hem Soğuk Savaş dönemi hem de Soğuk Savaş sonrası dönemde otonom ve işlevsel bir Avrupa ordusu niçin kurulamadı ve AB üyesi ülkeler gerçekten bir Avrupa ordusu kurmak istiyorlar mı? sorularına Avrupa bütünleşmesi, güvenlik, askerî konular, dış ilişkiler ve egemenlik özelinde çok yönlü olarak yanıt aranacaktır. Son olarak tarihsel süreçten elde edilen derslerin yanında Avrupa Birliği’nin ABD ve NATO ile ilişkileri, Brexit ve uluslararası ilişkilerde yaşanan güncel gelişmeler dikkate alınarak Avrupa ordusu ile ilgili bir gelecek öngörüsünde bulunulacaktır.

Keywords

• Avrupa Birliği
• Avrupa Savunma Topluluğu
• Batı Avrupa Birliği
• NATO
• OGSP

References

1. A European army. (1952). Current history, 23(131), 38-41.
2. Adenauer, K. (1955). Germany, the new partner. Foreign Affairs, 33(2), 177–183.
3. Adler, K. (2017, May 30). How Angela Merkel is 'taking back control' - German style, BBC. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-40094882
4. Albright, M. (1998, December 08). Press conference by US secretary of state Albright, https://www.nato.int/docu/speech/1998/s981208x.htm
5. Bailes, A. J. K. (2008). The EU and a 'better world': what role for the European security and defence policy?. International Affairs, 84(1), 115-130.
6. Barrie D., Barry B., Béraud-Sudreau L., Boyd H., Childs N., Giegerich B. (2019). Defending Europe: scenario-based capability requirements for NATO’s European members. IISS, https://www.iiss.org/globalassets/media-library---content--migration/images/comment/military-balance-blog/2019/may/defending-europe---iiss-research-paper.pdf
7. Bebr, G. (1955). The European Defence Community and the Western European Union: an agonizing dilemma. Stanford Law Review, 7(2), 169-236.
8. Belfast News – Letter. (1950, 09 August). Call for European army assembly debates the menace of Russia, 5-5.

9. Biscop, S. (2020). The future of the transatlantic alliance. Strategic Studies Quarterly, 14(3), 81-94.
10. Biscop, S. (2012). The UK and European defence: leading or leaving?. International Affairs, 88(6), 1297-1313.
11. Biscop, S. (2017). European defence: what’s in the CARDs for PESCO?. Egmont Security Policy Briefs, 91, 1-6.
12. Biscop, S. (2016). New momentum for European defence cooperation. Norwegian Institute for International Affairs, 33, 1-4.
13. Blockmans, S. ve Wessel, R. A. (2009). The European Union and crisis management: will the Lisbon Treaty make the EU more effective?. Journal of Conflict& Security Law, 14(2), 265-308.
14. Brattberg, E. ve Valašek, T. (2019). EU defence cooperation: progress amid transatlantic concerns. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. http://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep11385
15. Bruce, D. (1954, August 22). The United States Observer to the Interim Committee of the European Defense Community (Bruce) to the Department of State, https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1952-54v05p1/d585
16. Bulmer, S. (2018). Germany and the European Union: post-brexit hegemon?. Insight Turkey, 20(3), 11-28.
17. C. N. J. (1954). The European Defence Community: Problems of ratification. The World Today, 10(8), 326-339. Canbolat, İ. S. (2014). Avrupa Birliği ve Türkiye: Uluslarüstü sistemle ortaklık. Bursa: Alfa Aktüel.
18. Churchill W. (1950, August 11). Address given by Winston Churchill to the Council of Europe (Strasbourg, 11 August 1950), https://www.cvce.eu/en/obj/address_given_by_winston_churchill_to_the_council_of_europe_strasbourg_11_august_1950-en-ed9e513b-af3b-47a0-b03c-8335a7aa237d.html
19. Coelmont, J. (2019). European strategic autonomy: which military level of ambition?, Egmont Institute.
20. Deighton, A. (1998). The last piece of the jigsaw: Britain and the creation of the Western European Union, 1954. Contemporary European History, 7(2), 181-196.
21. Dillon D. (1954, August 29). The ambassador in France (Dillon) to the Department of State, https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1952-54v05p1/d601
22. Dorman, A. (2002). European adaptation to expeditionary warfare: implications for the U.S. army. Strategic Studies Institute, US Army War College. http://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep20973
23. Dunay, P. (2001). U.S.-EU relations after the introduction of the Euro and the reinvention of European security and defence. Perspectives, 16, 21-33.
24. Eberle, J., Roper, J., Wallace, W. ve Williams, P. (1984). European security cooperation and British interests. International Affairs, 60(4), 545-560.
25. Eekelen, W. (2018). Too many ways of European defense cooperation. Atlantisch Perspectief, 42(6), 24-29.
26. Erkul, İ. Ç. (2021). Commonwealth’i anlamak: beşikten mezara Britanya İmparatorluğu. Konya: Çizgi Kitabevi.
27. European Commission (2017) Reflection Paper on the future of European Defence. https://commission.europa.eu/system/files/2017-06/reflection-paper-defence_en.pdf
28. European Defense Community Treaty. (1952 May 27). https://aei.pitt.edu/5201/1/5201.pdf
29. European Union encyclopedia and directory 2022. (2021). Rotledge.
30. European Council. (1999, December 10-11). Helsinki European Council 10 and 11 december 1999 presidency conclusions. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/summits/hel1_en.htm#b
31. Faleg, G. ve Muniz, M. (2013). “The good, the bad and the ugly”: three visions for European defence beyond austerity. Studia Diplomatica, 66(2), 13-30.
32. Franco–British St. Malo Declaration. (1998, December 4). https://www.cvce.eu/en/obj/franco_british_st_malo_declaration_4_december_1998-en-f3cd16fb-fc37-4d52-936f-c8e9bc80f24f.html
33. Gladwyn, L. (1975). Western Europe's collective defence. International Affairs, 51(2), 166-174.
34. Gordon, P. H., (2000). Their own army? making european defense work. Foreign Affairs, 79(4), 12-17.
35. Gressel, G. (2020). Promoting European strategic sovereignty in the eastern neighbourhood. European Council on Foreign Relations. http://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep27730
36. H. G. L., (1952). The European Defence Community, The World Today, 8(6), 236-248.
37. Hansen, F. S. (2002). Explaining Russian endorsement of the CFSP and the ESDP. Security Dialogue, 33(4), 443-456.
38. Harper, J. (2019). EU defense programs have Trump administration talking retaliation. National Defense. 104(789), 7-7.
39. Hoeffler, C. (2019). Differentiated integration in CSDP through defence market integration. European Review of International Studies, 6(2), 43-70.
40. Kaplan, L. S. (1954). NATO and its commentators: the first five years. International Organization, 8(4), 447-467.
41. Larsen, C. (2019). EU should remain open to U.S. defense industry. National Defense, 104(793), 14-14.
42. Macron E. (2018, August 27). Speech by President Emmanuel Macron - Ambassadors’ Conference 2018. https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/the-ministry-and-its-network/news/ambassadors-week/ambassadors-week-edition-2018/article/speech-by-president-emmanuel-macron-ambassadors-conference-2018
43. Markowski, S. ve Wylie, R. (2007). The emergence of European defence and defence industry policies. Security Challenges, 3(2), 31-51.
44. McGeehan, R. (1985). European defence cooperation: a political perspective. The World Today, 41(6), 116-119.
45. Mendès-France P. (1954 August 16). Letter from Pierre Mendès France to Jean Monnet, https://www.cvce.eu/en/education/unit-content/-/unit/803b2430-7d1c-4e7b-9101-47415702fc8e/c23dd653-ba51-4f7e-9bf1-2c33b347d339/Resources#d77e64f2-00e9-4099-a7f3-343fb40772ef_en&overlay
46. Moens, A. (2000). Developing a European intervention force: the politics of sequencing autonomy, and ready access. International Journal, 2000, 55(2), 247-269.
47. Nerlich, U. (1974). West European defence identity: the French paradox. The World Today, 30(5), 187-198.
48. Nunes, I. F. (2016). The European Union global strategy. National Defense Institute of Portugal. http://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep19224
49. Oljelund, A. (2001). NATO-EU relations and the future of European security and defence. Insight Turkey, 3(3), 5-14.
50. Özdal, B. (2013). Avrupa Birliği siyasi bir cüce, askeri bir solucan mı?. Bursa: Dora.
51. Özdemir, Ç. (2021). The Franco-German rivarly in the post brexit European Union. Uluslararası İlişkiler, 18(71), 129-149.
52. Paulo, J. S. (2008). The European defense sector and EU integration. Connections, 8(1), 11-57.
53. Peters, I. (2004). ESDP as a transatlantic issue: problems of mutual ambiguity. International Studies Review, 6(3), 381-401.
54. Pick, O. (1999/2000). NATO, European defence and the lessons of Kosovo. Perspectives,13, 5-10.
55. Pleven R., (1950, October 24). Statement by René Pleven on the establishment of a European army (24 October 1950), https://www.cvce.eu/en/obj/statement_by_rene_pleven_on_the_establishment_of_a_european_army_24_october_1950-en-4a3f4499-daf1-44c1-b313-212b31cad878.html
56. Ritsch, F. F. (1968). Notes on De Gaulle's European strategy, 1942-1955. IlPolitico, 33(3), 527-537.
57. Rolin, H., Boeg, N. V., Jaffe, A., de Pinna, L. A., Picarda, P. A., Adamkiewicz, W., Moore, H. ve Spens, P. (1952). The European Defence Community. Transactions of the Grotius Society, 38, 4-24.
58. Scott, P. H. (1976). Beyond the Eurogroup: new developments in European defence. The World Today, 32(1), 31-38.
59. Şöhret, M. (2013). Avrupa Birliği’nin güvenlik yapılanmasının tarihsel gelişim süreci ve mevcut durumu, Uşak Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 6(2), 59-100.
60. Tassınari, F. ve Tetzlaff, S. (2018). European security post-Merkel Denmark should urge Franco-German coordination on EU defence. Danish Institute for International Studies Policy Brief. http://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep21350
61. The Singapore Free Press. (1954 October 23). Europe defence talks hit snag. 2-2.
62. The Straits Times. (1954 September 20). Allies get defence plan from M. France. 3-3.
63. Tsertsvadze, I. (2017). Britain and the common security and defense policy of the European Union. Connections, 16(3), 73-86.
64. Walker, W. ve Gummett, P. (1989). Britain and the European armaments market. International Affairs, 65(3), 419-442.
65. WEU Council of Ministers. (1984, June 12). Reactivation of WEU document 982. https://www.cvce.eu/en/education/unit-content/-/unit/d5906df5-4f83-4603-85f7-0cabc24b9fe1/8029981b-cd1e-4c29-90ac-2111641cf385/Resources#0fee2689-ae6e-4e91-b8c4-bab2b922b5cd_en&overlay
66. WEU Council of Ministers. (1992, June 19). Petersberg Declaration. https://www.cvce.eu/en/education/unit-content/-/unit/d5906df5-4f83-4603-85f7-0cabc24b9fe1/37ca6ab5-f862-4f9d-925e-3ec87eb86dda/Resources#16938094-bb79-41ff-951c-f6c7aae8a97a_en&overlay
67. Wientzek, O. ve Keller, P. (2017). A new dynamic in European security policy: thoughts on the European Commission’s reflection paper. Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, Facts&Findings, 268, 1-7.