NATO and EU/European Defense Initiatives: Competitive or Complementary

摘要

It is important that NATO not be replaced by the European Union (EU) leaving the United States (US) without a voice in European security affairs. Does this quote portray the current US view on Europe as a possible global competitor or does it express the US experience and lessons learned in the 20th century. Clearly, this quote can not be directly linked to the Bush Administration and therefore does not reflect the official US stand on that very issue. The quote however indicates an uneasiness from elements of the US political establishment with the ongoing security-policy related dynamics in the EU. This paper analyzes the current status of NATO and the European Union (EU) defense initiatives examines national objectives and interests of European key-players and the US and evaluates the aspects of competitiveness or complement of NATO and EU defense initiatives.