Only Europe can Guarantee its Defense

Op-ed

The lack of a genuine European foreign and defense policy is fatal.

The conflict with Russia is sparking a new defense debate. Vladimir Putin knows Europe's weaknesses and is not afraid to exploit them. It is a continuation of the past decade: Russia threatens, goes further, and the EU accepts. Europe's passive behavior causes the balance of power to shift continuously in Russia's favor. At best, sanctions are ordered, but effective instruments are prevented by the unanimity principle in foreign and defense policy. This leaves us unable to act and thus vulnerable. If Russia were to invade Ukraine tomorrow, EU representatives could only express what they always express in such situations: that the situation is being "closely monitored" and that they are "extremely concerned."

Austria needs strategy

The lack of a genuine European foreign and defense policy is not only fatal for the EU as a whole, but also for Austria in particular. Unlike most other EU states, we are not a NATO member. Neutrality coupled with an army that is chronically underfunded and poorly equipped leaves us as a defenseless observer. Austria needs a strategy, an active stand on defense, otherwise events will inevitably overtake us.

Austria's accession to NATO, as called for here by Gunther Fehlinger (guest commentary, Jan. 21, 2022), would provoke an additional conflict with Russia in the short term and does not answer the question of long-term European defense. Even within NATO, the EU states do not act together - and above all not on an equal footing with the USA. Delegating one's own defense to the U.S. is akin to European self-abandonment.

Instead, Austria, together with other member states, should promote a European defense strategy within the EU. NATO may protect its member states in the event of an alliance, but it will not be able to bring lasting peace to Europe. Only Europe can do that. Peace means freedom, and freedom means freedom from other parties, including the United States. The EU must emancipate itself on the defense issue and finally stand on its own two feet.

How serious do you want it to get?

The Russian deployment on the Ukrainian border shows us once again how urgently the EU needs to be a strong independent player on the world political stage. Europe's inability to act in security policy is being relentlessly exploited by adversaries like Vladimir Putin. How much more serious do threats have to become before the member states of the Union finally act?

Austria, too, must realize that it needs to make decisions sooner rather than later. Fehlinger's commentary, for example, correctly noted that the "neutral" shield will not last forever. The strongest European defense will ultimately be of no use to Austria if it does not commit to it. Austria must actively participate in a strong European security and defense policy. We cannot afford to spend more years working under the motto "nothing will happen". That is not a strategy, but a fallacy.

Op-ed published originally in German in Die Presse on February, 2nd, 2022.