In the current international political arena, the EU's strategic autonomy has become a hot topic. Recently, the appeal of Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio has once again pushed this issue to the forefront. He suggested that the EU should build its own joint army to ensure regional security and play a more active role in global affairs.
This proposal is not unfounded. Already at the end of the 20th century, the European Union began to ** the possibility of creating an independent military force. However, due to strong opposition from the United States, this plan was eventually shelved. The United States fears that the EU's independent military might weaken NATO's influence, threatening transatlantic security cooperation.
However, as the global political landscape changes, the EU's need for strategic autonomy is becoming more and more urgent. In 2018, German Chancellor Angela Merkel reiterated the issue of military build-up, emphasizing that the EU military would complement NATO, not replace it. France's Macron even bluntly said that NATO is "brain dead", suggesting that Europe needs greater autonomy in security matters.
This shift in the EU can be seen as a response to the shift in the global center of gravity in recent years. With the rise of countries in regions such as Asia, Europe's relative position on the global stage has declined. In addition, there is distrust of the long-term strategic intentions of the United States within the EU. The leading role of the United States in the framework of NATO is seen by some European countries as a constraint on their foreign policy.
Russia's spokesperson Zakharova's three questions revealed the EU's dependence on the military, science and technology, and energy fields. These questions point to the challenges that the EU must face in its pursuit of strategic autonomy: how to develop its military capabilities without compromising its relationship with the United States; how to stay ahead of the global technology competition; and how to reduce dependence on external energy sources.
Against the backdrop of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the EU's security and energy policy has been tested like never before. The EU needs to manage its complex relationship with Russia while maintaining the security of its borders and reducing its dependence on U.S. energy. The solution of this series of problems will be the key to the EU's strategic autonomy.
In general, the idea of an independent army in the EU reflects its desire to seek greater autonomy in the new international environment. But achieving this goal will require a deliberate strategic adjustment by the EU at multiple levels. Only in this way will the EU be able to ensure its long-term security and prosperity while maintaining its ties with its traditional allies.