Written by Marcin Grajewski.
Russia’s war on Ukraine has been redefining the European Union’s security, defence and foreign policies, changing its priorities on the continent and globally. The biggest military conflict on European soil since World War II has shone a spotlight on territorial defence and the shifting international order. Before the brutal conflict erupted a year ago, security and defence policy had focused mainly on conflict prevention and the strengthening of international security in general.The main foreign policy objectives had included the preservation of peace, strengthening international security and promoting international cooperation.
The war has highlighted the importance of NATO and transatlantic relations for European security, despite efforts to bolster the EU’s ‘strategic autonomy‘. The conflict has solidified EU solidarity in foreign and security policy, but also brought to light certain divisions among Member States.
This note gathers links to recent publications and commentaries from many international think tanks on European defence, security and foreign policies. It includes only the most recent papers related to Ukraine. Earlier reports on Russia’s war on Ukraine can be found in the previous item in the ‘What think tanks are thinking’ series.
The EU must reconcile geopolitics and democracy
Carnegie Europe, February 2023
Can Europe influence U.S.-China rivalry?
Carnegie Europe, February 2023
The unfulfilled promise of EU foreign and security policy towards Iran
Centre for European Policy Studies, February 2023
The South China Sea and Indo-Pacific in an era of ”multipolar” competition
Centre for European Policy Studies, February 2023
The impact of the war in Ukraine: Annual report 2022
Centre for European Reform, February 2023
Europe and the Iran nuclear threat
Centre for European Reform, February 2023
A new momentum grows for UK-France defence cooperation
Chatham House, February 2023
Seven ways Russia’s war on Ukraine has changed the world
Chatham House, February 2023
Culture notes: Will the EU find its voice at last?
Chatham House, February 2023
Europe: Crossing the East-West divide
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Auswärtige Politik, February 2023
The European Union and Latin America: Renewing the partnership after drifting apart
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Auswärtige Politik, February 2023
Repair, replace, reimburse: Sustaining a European tank coalition for Ukraine
European Council on Foreign Relations, February 2023
Russia’s defeat in Ukraine must be the top transatlantic priority
European Policy Centre, February 2023
One year of war in Ukraine: Why Western policy towards Russia has not changed enough
Finnish Institute of International Affairs, February 2023
Leopard 2 tanks and Ukraine’s war: Keeping an eye on the geopolitical ball
Friends of Europe, February 2023
Pushing back against the authoritarians: Everyone can play a part, not just the military
Friends of Europe, February 2023
Watching China in Europe: February 2023
German Marshall Fund, February 2023
Turkey’s disengagement from the European Union
German Marshall Fund, February 2023
Comment la guerre a déjà changé l’Union européenne?
Institut Jacques Delors, February 2023
Guerre en Ukraine et nouvel ordre du monde
Institut Montaigne, February 2023
Back to the roots: Nato returns to territorial defence in Europe
Istituto per gli Studi di Politica Internazionale, February 2023
European missile defence: Right questions, unclear answers?
International Institute for Strategic Studies, February 2023
La guerre en Ukraine et l’action de l’Union européenne : expertise technique et politique
Robert Schuman Foundation, February 2023
Germany’s fragile leadership role in European air defence
Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik, February 2023
Is European strategic autonomy over?
Carnegie Europe, January 2023
Is European defence missing its moment?
Centre for European Reform, January 2023
Europe’s strategic technology autonomy from China
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Auswärtige Politik, January 2023
How Europe can shape changes in the world economy
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Auswärtige Politik, January 2023
Strategy, capabilities, technology: A manifesto for new European defence
European Council on Foreign Relations, January 2023
Will 2023 mark a shift towards a more realist EU foreign policy?
Friends of Europe, January 2023
What to watch in 2023
German Marshall Fund, January 2023
Souveraineté numérique: Politiques européennes, dilemmes américains
Institut français des relations internationales, January 2023
Naval combat systems: Developments and challenges
Istituto Affari Internazionali, January 2023
Europe-Africa relations in a multi-crises world: Turning the page after COVID-19, the EU-AU Summit and the war against Ukraine
Istituto Affari Internazionali, January 2023
Geopolitics and energy security in Europe
Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, January 2023
Time to re-engage with Kosovo and Serbia: Strengthening EU foreign and security policy amidst internal contestation
Barcelona Centre for International Affairs, December 2022
Centre of gravity: Security and defence in the Indo-Pacific – What role for the European Union
Brussels School of Governance, December 2022
A tactical pause in relations with the West: China plays on hopes for peace
Centre for Eastern Studies, December 2022
Can we ever build a common European home? The perils and promise of an old idea
Centre for European Policy Studies, December 2022
The rise of mega-regions: Eurasia, the Indo-Pacific, and the transatlantic alliance in a reshaped world order
Centre for European Policy Studies, December 2022
Strengthening US-EU cooperation on trade and technology
Chatham House, December 2022
Open strategic autonomy in European defence: what countries must do
Clingendael, December 2022
Realising the EU hybrid toolbox: opportunities and pitfalls
Clingendael, December 2022
Nach der Ostpolitik Lehren aus der Vergangenheit als Grundlage für eine neue Russland- und Osteuropapolitik
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Auswärtige Politik, December 2022
Fragmentation nation: How Europeans can help end the conflict in Yemen
European Council on Foreign Relations, December 2022
The growing EU engagement in Central Asia: Challenging the Russian predominance in its traditional backyard
European Institute for Asian Studies, December 2022
The EU-ASEAN commemorative summit: Advancing bilateral cooperation in challenging times
European Institute for Asian Studies, December 2022
Seize the geopolitical moment: The Western Balkans and European security
Friends of Europe, December 2022
Watching China in Europe: December 2022
German Marshall Fund, December 2022
Analysing political acceptability of reforms among national policymakers
GLOBSEC, December 2022
Hague Centre for Strategic Studies, December 2022
Stocks militaires: une assurance-vie en haute intensité?
Institut français des relations internationales, December 2022
EU foreign policy integration at times of war: From short-term responses to long-term solutions
Istituto Affari Internazionali, December 2022
Naval defence cooperation in the EU: Potential and hurdles
Istituto Affari Internazionali, December 2022
Military expenditure: Transparency, defence inflation and purchasing power parity
International Institute for Strategic Studies, December 2022
How to save the WTO with more flexible trading rules
Peterson Institute for International Economics, December 2022
EU responses to the potential of an armed conflict in the Taiwan Strait
Polish Institute of International Affairs, December 2022
A strategic feasibility test: Is the old European dream of peaceful multilateralism dead?
Brussels School of Governance, November 2022
The US-EU trade and technology council: Assessments and recommendations
Centre for Strategic and International Studies, November 2022
Promoting the rule of law in EU external relations: A conceptual framework
College of Europe, November 2022
The war against Ukraine and European defence: When will we square the circle?
Egmont, November 2022
A like-minded partner? India’s evolving domestic politics and implications for the EU
European Institute for Security Studies, November 2022
After the storm: The EU in uncharted waters
European Policy Centre, November 2022
Diversity and power in the European Union
European Policy Centre, November 2022
Securing our future: 100 African and European voices on climate change, conflict and security
Friends of Europe, November 2022
Euro-Mediterranean economic cooperation in the age of deglobalisation
Istituto Affari Internazionali, November 2022
Read this briefing on ‘EU security, defence and foreign policies‘ in the Think Tank pages of the European Parliament.
What are the current thoughts and analyses of think tanks regarding the European Union’s security, defense, and foreign policies, and how do they envision the future direction and challenges in these areas?