Towards a European Defense Identity Compatible with NATO

The European Security and Defense Identity (ESDI) is a common but not defined goal, due to disagreements among Europeans on its political content. Reasons to explain this are related to the resistance to the idea of a European defense authority, fears of German hegemony, and the conviction that Europe is uncapable of defending herselfwithout the assistance of the United States. Estrella states that, with the end of the Cold War, some arguments opposing ESDI lost weight. However, the evolution and restructuring of NATO is not the product of European initiative, but rather an element of the U.S.strategy in Europe. Moreover, while the U.S. has a global strategy, Europe has not yet defined its security interests neither globally nor regionally. The author reviews the steps undertaken by NATO and the WEU towards further collaboration and the development of a European identity. He wonders whether there is enough political will either in Europe or the U.S. to overcome archaic views on trans-atlantic relations and narrow concepts about the future of Europe.