Requirements for future European military strategies and force structures

Abstract

Europe's military capabilities have long been underestimated and undervalued. Now the failure of the US-led operations in Afghanistan and Iraq to establish long-term security may lead to a reappraisal of these capabilities. European military cooperation has suffered from lack of focus, with no common understanding of Europe's interests, values and vision. The European security strategy may finally provide such a focus. There has been a convergence between EU and NATO force structures. Continuing this trend, the EU force structure should develop in close coordination with NATO. Successful military operationalization of the ESS, however, will require the development of specific European military concepts qualitatively different from those underpinning US military development.

Notes

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See also Achieving the Helsinki Headline Goals, Discussion Paper, Centre for Defence Studies, King's College, London, Nov. 2001; Rachel Anne Lutz, Military Capabilities for a European Defence, Copenhagen: Danish Institute of International Affairs, 2001.

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See Gerrard Quille's article in this volume.

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Pfaff (see n.10 above).

See also Robert Cooper, The Breaking of Nation – Order and Chaos in the Twenty-first Century, London: Atlantic Books, 2003, p.166.

See Gerrard Quille's article.

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Pfaff (see n.10 above).

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C4ISTAR stands for command, control, communication, computers, intelligence, surveillance and targeting, in brief the brains, senses and nerve system of operational leadership.

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Author's own estimates based on known existing plans.

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See n.42 above.

See n.43 above.