المجلة الجزائرية للأمن والتنمية
Volume 15, Numéro 2, Pages 235-252
2026-07-01
European Strategic Autonomy And The Prospect Of A “real European Army”: Structural Constraints And Future Scenarios
Authors : Ziadeh Adeeb . Diabat Kheir Salem .
Abstract
This article examines the feasibility of establishing a European army within the broader debate on European strategic autonomy. Rather than approaching the issue as a normative aspiration or a purely technical military challenge, the study conceptualizes it as a structural and political problem rooted in European integration dynamics. Employing a qualitative historical-analytical approach and an integrated theoretical framework combining neofunctionalism, liberal intergovernmentalism, and realism as a security perspective, the article analyzes the evolution of European defense cooperation, internal EU constraints, and external systemic pressures. It argues that despite renewed political momentum, particularly following recent geopolitical developments, the creation of a fully autonomous European army remains unlikely due to enduring sovereignty concerns, institutional fragmentation, divergent strategic cultures, and continued dependence on NATO. The study concludes that the most plausible trajectory for European defense lies in enhanced functional cooperation within existing alliance structures rather than full military unification.
Keywords
European Strategic Autonomy; European Army; EU Defense Integration; NATO; European Security; Alliance Politics
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