Chernega Vladimir Nikolaevich – Sc.D. in Law, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Envoy, Chief Researcher, INION RAS
For many years, French President E. Macron has been promoting the idea of turning the European Union into the «Power Europe» capable to compete on the international stage with the world’s power centers, including the United States. Like other «Europeanists», he believes that the key element of such a «power» is the EU’s own defense potential. Hence E. Macron’s efforts to promote «European autonomous defense», which began to be created even before his election as president, but for a long time remained undeveloped. The article analyzes the progress made in this area, achieved, in particular, thanks to the joint work of the Franco-German tandem. At the same time, factors complicating the construction of «European autonomous defense» are considered. Particular attention is paid to the contradictory approach to European integration and its military component on the part of the United States. It is noted that the USA is not against strengthening the institutions of the European Union, as this facilitates interaction with it. At the same time, Washington consistently supports the expansion of the association, making it more cumbersome, realizing that this creates additional opportunities to play on the contradictions between EU member states. «European autonomous defense» suits the United States only insofar as it helps to increase defense spending by European NATO allies and to improve their military infrastructure that NATO can use. It is concluded that the United States is not at all interested in the emergence of such a geopolitical and geoeconomic rival as the EU. The article also points out the factors that work in favor of E. Macron’s «European project». But the prospects for the emergence of the «Power Europe» remain vague.
European integration, «European autonomous defense», Franco-German tandem, «Power Europe», USA.
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