Angela Kane: European Security in the Age of Trump, Brexit and Rising Global Instability

On 24 September 2019, VCDNP Senior Fellow Angela Kane delivered the keynote speech at United Europe's CEO Roundtable event on "Common Security and Defense Policy." Other speakers included United Europe President Wolfgang Schüssel and Austria's Ambassador to France Michael Linhart.

During her keynote address, Ms. Kane drew attention to the rising tensions in European security taking place after three decades of relative peace and stability. She observed that security is not a concept that exists in a vacuum, but rather a balance between political, economic and social factors, both in the public and private sectors.

In particular, Ms. Kane observed that the new geostrategic and security environment has contributed to instability in Europe.

“Security is not measured in military terms alone, and while NATO and EU defense structures are indispensable for member States, other security threats are equally prominent,” observed Ms. Kane.

Ms. Kane drew some conclusions during her remarks about Europe’s future course in today’s geopolitical reality.

1. For Europe, decoupling from international bodies, from globalization, is simply not an option, nor is decoupling from the United States. Despite recent tensions between the United States and other NATO countries, European security is intrinsically linked with the NATO alliance. However, this does not preclude Europe from taking a more dominant role in its security, especially as the lines between internal and external security challenges blur.
2. Europe should look beyond Europe and the NATO alliance in its view of international relations. In the past decades there has been a shift from old, Cold War-era sensibilities to a “system in flux” or “emerging bipolarity” between the United States and China. Competition in this era will take place less in the military field and more in the economic one. The EU should refocus on this new reality and on its global responsibilities.
3. In this regard, Ms. Kane purports that supporting multilateralism is not enough and that Europe should take a much more active role in the course of international affairs, as it did in the case of the negotiation of the JCPOA.

Ms. Kane's full remarks are available on United Europe's website.