5: EU-US Transatlantic Cooperation and Competition

Flashcards covering the key theoretical debates, policy shifts, and economic data regarding the EU-US transatlantic relationship and European strategic autonomy.

NanolC

The largest Chips Act pilot line in Europe, launched at IMEC Leuven with a total investment of $€2.5 \text{ billion}$, intended to develop semiconductor technology for Al, autonomous vehicles, healthcare, and $6G$ mobile technology.

Europeanist v. Atlanticist

A dichotomy of contrasting approaches to post-WWII security for Europe; the former favors internalized European autonomy (often led by France), while the latter emphasizes the 'Atlantic option' and cooperation with the United States.

The 3Ds

A defining United States policy framework for European defense established by Madeleine K. Albright in 1998, specifying 'no duplication, no discrimination, and no decoupling' from the US.

The Pivot to Asia

A major reorientation of U.S. strategy announced in 2011 by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, shifting focus and military priorities from Europe and the Middle East toward the Asia-Pacific region.

Deep Engagement

A scholarly position (e.g., Brooks, Ikenberry, and Wohlforth) arguing that the US should remain actively engaged in Europe through institutions like NATO to provide regional security and serve US economic interests.

Restraint

A grand strategy approach (e.g., Posen 2014) favoring US withdrawal from Europe, arguing that European states are wealthy enough to form a coalition for their own defense and that engagement no longer serves US interests.

Strategic Autonomy

The institutional capacity of the EU to independently plan and conduct military operations across the full spectrum of conflict and to autonomously develop defense capabilities with minimal or no assistance from the United States.

Strategic Cacophony

A term used by Meijer and Brooks (2021) to describe the constraint caused by inter-state diverging threat perceptions among European nations, particularly regarding Russia.

IISS 'Defending Europe' Study (2019)

A pessimistic assessment stating that European NATO members would need additional investments of approximately $100 \text{ billion USD}$ for sea lanes and $300 \text{ billion USD}$ for regional war defense to operate without the US.

Posen (2020) Assessment

A critique of the IISS report arguing that 'Europe can defend itself,' suggesting that current NATO aircraft levels would be sufficient for major defensive operations in Poland without a shortage.

European Defense Agency (EDA)

A body that introduces rules and procedures, such as the 'Code of Conduct on Defence Procurement,' to manage the tension between national defense sovereignty and the logic of pooled resources.

C4ISR

A category of modern weapons systems characterized by long development times and the requirement for specialized personnel, representing a significant defense capacity shortfall in Europe.

Burden sharing

A debate regarding the distribution of defense expenditures within NATO, recently marked by open US pressure on European nations like Spain, Italy, and Belgium to move from $1.5\%$ to $2\%$ spending.

2022 EU Strategic Compass

An EU document aimed at enhancing strategic autonomy and the ability to work with partners to safeguard values and interests through tools like the European Defense Fund and Permanent Structured Cooperation.

EU-US Trade Surplus (2022)

Economic data indicating that the EU had a trade surplus with the US of $204 \text{ billion USD}$, based on $553 \text{ billion USD}$ in exports and $349 \text{ billion USD}$ in imports.