European strategic autonomy and small states' security: in the shadow of power

"This book analyses whether the EU's drift towards European strategic autonomy presents a challenge or a window of opportunity for its small member states to advance their security interests. The volume presents small states' perceptions of European strategic autonomy, highlighting their expectations and concerns. The chapters focus on the depth and breadth of European strategic autonomy, national security considerations, assessment of the impact on transatlantic relations, the expected outputs and its potential impact on the EU's institutional structure. It also shows how systemic circumstances and the interests of powerful states, either belonging to the EU (France, Germany, and Poland) or having a significant say in European security architecture (the US), establish opportunities and constraints for the small states to shape European strategic autonomy. In particular, the study focuses on the diverging interests of the Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania), Belgium, Denmark, Greece, Hungary and the Netherlands. It demonstrates that, in most cases, European strategic autonomy is perceived not as an alternative to NATO but as a supplementary element that could facilitate the development of national military capabilities, indigenous defence industries and resilience to non-military threats. Ultimately, the book suggests that national approaches towards European strategic autonomy mainly stem from pragmatic national security and foreign policy considerations, while largely ignoring grand strategic ideas. This book will be of much interest to students of European politics, security studies, and International Relations"

Introduction: Small States, International Institutions and European Strategic Autonomy / Justinas Juozaitis -- European Strategic Autonomy: The Origins Story / Giedrius Česnakas -- Revisiting France's Commitment to Defence integration: A Case of Political Functionalism / Ringailė Kuokštytė -- Germany: The Renewed Quest for Strategic Autonomy / Andris Banka -- Poland's Resilient Atlanticism / Ieva Gajauskaitė -- US Foreign Policy during the Biden Presidency: A Reset in the US Approach Towards the EU Strategic Autonomy? / Gerda Jakštaitė-Confortola, -- Through the Estonian Looking Glass: Can NATO's Credible Deterrence and EU Strategic Autonomy Succeed Simultaneously? / Viljar Veebel and Illimar Ploom -- Military Capabilities First, Politics Later: Latvia's Approach to European Strategic Autonomy / Toms Rostoks -- European Strategic Autonomy in Lithuania's Foreign Policy Discourse / Ieva Karpavičiūtė -- European Strategic Autonomy: Opportunities and Threats for Denmark / Amelie Theussen -- Belgium and European Strategic Autonomy / Alain De Neve -- Dutch Security and Defence Policy: From Faithful Ally to Pragmatic European / Sabine Mengelberg and Jörg Noll -- A Reluctant Supporter: The Hungarian Perspective on European Strategic Autonomy / Tamás Csiki Varga -- Shared Values and Common Borders: Why Greece Views European Strategic Autonomy as an Opportunity / Vicky Karyoti -- Conclusions: Domination of Pragmatism Towards the European Strategic Autonomy / Giedrius Česnakas and Justinas Juozaitis.