European Strategic Autonomy
Concept and Context
"Strategic autonomy" refers to Europe's capacity to act independently in foreign and security policy without being dependent on external powers, particularly the United States. The concept has gained traction since the first Trump presidency (2017-2021) but has taken on acute urgency in 2025-2026. It encompasses three dimensions: defence industrial self-sufficiency, independent foreign policy decision-making, and technological sovereignty. France has historically been the strongest proponent within the EU, having maintained an independent nuclear deterrent outside NATO's integrated military command structure from 1966 until 2009.
- The EU's Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) provides the treaty framework for collective EU defence efforts
- Germany's Rheinmetall is on track to produce 1.5 million 155mm artillery shells annually by 2027, rivalling US production
- The EU and member states contributed €177.5 billion to Ukraine over the first 3.5 years of the war
- France re-integrated into NATO's military command structure in 2009 under President Sarkozy
- EU Treaty (Article 42.7 TEU) contains a mutual assistance clause similar to NATO's Article 5
● Tracked since February 17, 2026 · last seen July 11, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes