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France and Germany’s European Army or NATO Dilemma

Year 2023, Volume: 3 Issue: 2, 121 - 138, 30.06.2023

Abstract

One of the important agenda items of the EU integration process has been common defense and security initiatives. After the Cold War, the tragedy of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the middle of Europe, ethnic conflicts in Kosovo, the US invasion of Iraq after the 9/11 terrorist attack without the approval of the UN, and Germany and France's opposition to this military operation brought the European Army discussions to Europe’s security agenda. In this article, I analyzed the France’s and Germany’s White Papers in the light of Walt's threat balance theorem. Although the rhetoric of the European Army seems to be a defense initiative aimed at balancing US hegemony, I have come to the conclusion that it is actually aimed at the defense capacities of economic resources without being threatened from any country. Therefore, the European Army discourse without any threat identification is the vision's greatest impasse. Although Germany and France radically reduced their military expenditures and the number of soldiers after the Cold War and declared that for the first time in history, a peace environment was in Europe, Sweden and Finland's application to NATO membership after the Russia-Ukraine War proved there was no alternative to NATO. In this context, I consider that the possibility of a European Army has decreased with the Russia-Ukraine War, and that Germany will engage in closer defense cooperation with the United States

References

  • BBC (2018, 06 Kasım). “France’s Macron pushes for ‘true European army’”, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-46108633, (Erişim Tarihi: 18.03.2023).
  • Buck, T. (2018, 29 Kasım). “Germany plans to increase size of armed forces”, Financial Times, https://www.ft.com/content/5d79501a-f3e5-11e8-ae55-df4bf40f9d0d, (Erişim Tarihi: 18.03.2023).
  • Bundestag.de (2019). “Information from the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Armed Forces”, Annual Report 2018 (60th Report), https://www.bundestag.de/resource/blob/594458/e26b85c43f6fe74f387f488961d9c387/annual_report_2018_60th_report-data.pdf, (Erişim Tarihi: 18.03.2023).
  • CNN Türk. (2022,, 16 Ekim). “Scholz’dan “Avrupa Ordusu” çağrısı”, https://www.cnnturk.com/video/dunya/scholzdan-avrupa-ordusu-cagrisi, (Erişim Tarihi: 18.11.2022).
  • Colby, E. A. ve Mitchell, A. W. (2020, 23 Temmuz).”The Age of Great-Power Competition: How the Trump Administration Refashioned American Strategy”, Foreign Affairs, https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/2019-12-10/age-great-power-competition, (Erişim Tarihi: 18.03.2023).
  • Cooper, R. (2004).The Breaking of Nations: Order and Chaos in the Twenty-First Century, 1st Printing Editions, Atlantic Monthly Press.
  • Deschaux-Dutard, D. (2009). “l’Allemagne et la défense européenne: une locomotive symbolique plus qu’opérationnelle?” Revue Défense Nationale, Cilt: 6, Sayı: 821, ss. 37–42.
  • Dockrill, S. (1991). Britain’s Policy for West German Rearmement 1950-1955, Cambridge University Press.
  • France Présidence de la République (2008). “The French White Paper on defence and national security”, https://media.nti.org/pdfs/15-Fr.pdf, (Erişim Tarihi: 20.03.2023).
  • France Présidence de la République (2013). “The French White Paper on defence and national security”, https://www.defense.gouv.fr/content/download/215253/2394121/file/White%20paper%20on%20defense%20%202013.pdf, (Erişim Tarihi: 20.03.2023).
  • Frankfurter Allgeimene (2018, 16 Kasım). “Words must now be followed by deeds”, https://www-faz-net.translate.goog/aktuell/politik/inland/europaeische-armee-von-der-leyen-will-parlamente-staerken-15892744.html?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=tr&_x_tr_hl=tr&_x_tr_pto=sc, (Erişim Tarihi: 20.03.2023).
  • Germany Federal Ministry of Defence (2006). “White Paper 2006 on German Security Policy and the Future of the Bundeswehr”, https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/156941/Germany%202006%20white%20paper.pdf, (Erişim Tarihi: 20.03.2023).
  • Germany Federal Ministry of Defence (2016). “White Paper 2016 on German Security Policy and the Future of the Bundeswehr”, https://issat.dcaf.ch/download/111704/2027268/2016%20White%20Paper.pdf, (Erişim Tarihi: 20.03.2023).
  • Grand, C. (2011).”The French Case: Livre Blanc sur la Défense et la Sécurité Nationale”, EU-US Security, IAI/UI/FRS/CSIS.
  • Helnarska, K. J. (2013). “The National Security of France in White Papers on Defense Continuity or change?”, Polish Political Science, Vol XLII.
  • Huntington, S. P. (2009). “The Lonely Superpower,” Foreign Affairs, Cilt: 78, Sayı: 2, ss. 35-49. J.C., (2018, 09 Ağustos). “Why Germany’s army is in a bad state”, The Economist, https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2018/08/09/why-germanys-army-is-in-a-bad-state, (Erişim Tarihi: 20.03.2023).
  • Kempin, R.ve Kunz, B. (2017). “France, Germany, and the Quest for European Strategic Autonomy: Franco-German Defence Cooperation in A New Era”, IFRI - Institut Français Des Relations Internationales, https://www.ifri.org/en/publications/notes-de-lifri/notes-cerfa/france-germany-and-quest-european-strategic-autonomy-franco, (Erişim Tarihi: 20.03.2023).
  • Lykeke Jr. A. (1989). “Strategy=E+W+M”, Military Review, LXIX. No 5.
  • Macdonald, P. K., ve Parent, J. M.(2011). “Graceful Decline? The Surprising Success of Great Power Retrenchment”, International Security, Cilt: 35, Sayı: 4, ss. 7–44.
  • Maïa De La B. ve Herszenhor, D. M. (2021, 02 Kasım). “Merkel joins Macron in calling for EU army to complement NATO”, Politico, https://www.politico.eu/article/angela-merkel-emmanuel-macron-eu-army-to-complement-nato/, (Erişim Tarihi: 20.03.2023).
  • Mearsheimer, J. J. ve Walt, S. (2023). “An Unnecessary War”, Foreign Policy, Cilt: 134, ss. 51-59.
  • Moravcsik, A. (2014, 13 Aralık). “Shaping Europe: France, Germany, and Embedded Bilateralism From the Elysée Treaty to Twenty-First Century Politics”, Foreign Affairs, https://www.foreignaffairs.com/reviews/capsule-review/2014-12-15/shaping-europe-france-germany-and-embedded-bilateralism-elysee, (Erişim Tarihi: 20.03.2023).
  • Munich Security Conference.org (2017). “Munich Security Report 2017”, (https://securityconference.org/en/publications/munich-security-report-2017/, (Erişim Tarihi: 20.03.2023).
  • NATO (2008, April 03). Bucharest Summit Declaration, https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/official_texts_8443.htm, (Erişim Tarihi: 11.04.2023).
  • Rasmussen, A.F. (2010). “The New Strategic Concept: Active Engagement, Modern Defence”, NATO.int, https://www.nato.int/cps/fr/natohq/opinions_66727.htm?selectedLocale=en, (Erişim Tarihi: 20.03.2023).
  • Russian Foreign Ministry (2013). The Foreign Policy Concept of the Russian Federation 2013, https://www.voltairenet.org/article202037.html, (Erişim Tarihi: 11.04.2023).
  • SIPRI (2019). “Trends in World Military Expenditure, 2018” SIPRI.org, https://www.sipri.org/sites/default/files/2019-04/fs_1904_milex_2018_0.pdf, (Erişim Tarihi: 20.03.2023).
  • SIPRI (2021). “World military spending rises to almost $2 trillion in 2020” SIPRI.org, https://www.sipri.org/media/press-release/2021/world-military-spending-rises-almost-2-trillion-2020, (Erişim Tarihi: 20.03.2023).
  • The Economist (2019, 07 Kasım). “Emmanuel Macron warns Europe: NATO is becoming brain-dead”, https://www.economist.com/europe/2019/11/07/emmanuel-macron-warns-europe-nato-is-becoming-brain-dead, (Erişim Tarihi: 20.03.2023).
  • TRT Haber (2022, 01 Haziran). “Almanya Avrupa’nın en büyük NATO ordusu için harekete geçti”, https://www.trthaber.com/haber/dunya/almanya-avrupanin-en-buyuk-nato-ordusu-icin-harekete-gecti-684735.html, (Erişim Tarihi: 20.03.2023).
  • Turhan, E. (2019). “Avrupa Birliği’nin Ortak Güvenlik ve Savunma Politikasının Savunma Boyutunun Gelişiminde Pesco’nun Rolü: Fırsatlar ve Zorluklar”, İşletme Fakültesi Dergisi, Cilt: 20, Sayı: 2, ss. 347-374.
  • U.S. Defense Department (2003). “Defense.gov Transcript: Secretary Rumsfeld Briefs at the Foreign Press Center,” https://web.archive.org/web/20140228200949/http://www.defense.gov/transcripts/transcript.aspx?transcriptid=1330, (Erişim Tarihi: 20.03.2023).
  • Walt, S. M. (1987). The Origins of Alliances, Cornell Studies in Security Affairs, 1st Edition, Cornell University Press.
  • Walt, S. M. (1991). “The Renaissance of Security Studies”, International Studies Quarterly, Cilt: 35, Sayı: 2, ss. 211-239.
  • Walt, S. M. (1998). “The Ties That Fray: Why Europe and America are Drifting Apart”, The National Interest, Cilt: 54, ss. 3-11.

Fransa ve Almanya’nın Avrupa Ordusu veya NATO İkilemi

Year 2023, Volume: 3 Issue: 2, 121 - 138, 30.06.2023

Abstract

AB bütünleşme sürecinin önemli gündem maddelerinden birisi de ortak savunma ve güvenlik girişimleri olmuştur. Soğuk Savaş sonrası, Avrupa’nın ortasında vuku bulan Bosna-Hersek trajedisi, Kosova’daki etnik çatışmalar, ABD’nin 9/11 terör saldırısı sonrası Irak’ı işgali ve Almanya ile Fransa’nın bu askerî harekâta karşı çıkmaları gibi uluslararası güvenlik olayları Avrupa Ordusu söylem ve tartışmalarını Avrupa’nın gündemine getirdi. Bu makalede Fransa ve Almanya’nın 21. Yüzyılda yayımladıkları milli güvenlik strateji belgeleri olan Beyaz Kitapları, Prof. Walt’un tehdit dengesi teoremi ışığı altında analiz edilmektedir. Her iki devletin en önemli strateji belgeleri olan beyaz kitaplarının incelenmesi ve asker sayıları ile savunma harcamaları birlikte değerlendirildiğinde; Avrupa Ordusu söylemlerinin ABD hegemonyasını dengelemeye yönelik gibi bir savunma inisiyatifi gibi görünmesine rağmen, aslında herhangi bir devleti tehdit görmeksizin ekonomik kaynakların savunma kapasitelerini amaçladığı sonucuna vardım. Bu nedenle herhangi bir tehdit tanımlaması olmadan Avrupa Ordusu söylemi vizyonun en büyük açmazıdır. Soğuk Savaş sonrasında Almanya ve Fransa askeri harcamalarını ve asker sayılarını radikal oranda azaltıp, tarihte olmadığı kadar ilk defa bir barış ortamının Avrupa’da olduğunu açıklamış olsalar da, Rusya-Ukrayna Savaşı sonrası İsveç ve Finlandiya’nın NATO üyeliğine başvurmaları NATO’nun güvenlik alanında alternatifinin olmadığını teyit etmektedir. Bu kapsamda, Avrupa Ordusu ihtimalinin Rusya-Ukrayna Savaşı ile azaldığı, Almanya’nın ABD ile daha yakın savunma işbirliğine gideceğini değerlendiriyorum.

References

  • BBC (2018, 06 Kasım). “France’s Macron pushes for ‘true European army’”, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-46108633, (Erişim Tarihi: 18.03.2023).
  • Buck, T. (2018, 29 Kasım). “Germany plans to increase size of armed forces”, Financial Times, https://www.ft.com/content/5d79501a-f3e5-11e8-ae55-df4bf40f9d0d, (Erişim Tarihi: 18.03.2023).
  • Bundestag.de (2019). “Information from the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Armed Forces”, Annual Report 2018 (60th Report), https://www.bundestag.de/resource/blob/594458/e26b85c43f6fe74f387f488961d9c387/annual_report_2018_60th_report-data.pdf, (Erişim Tarihi: 18.03.2023).
  • CNN Türk. (2022,, 16 Ekim). “Scholz’dan “Avrupa Ordusu” çağrısı”, https://www.cnnturk.com/video/dunya/scholzdan-avrupa-ordusu-cagrisi, (Erişim Tarihi: 18.11.2022).
  • Colby, E. A. ve Mitchell, A. W. (2020, 23 Temmuz).”The Age of Great-Power Competition: How the Trump Administration Refashioned American Strategy”, Foreign Affairs, https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/2019-12-10/age-great-power-competition, (Erişim Tarihi: 18.03.2023).
  • Cooper, R. (2004).The Breaking of Nations: Order and Chaos in the Twenty-First Century, 1st Printing Editions, Atlantic Monthly Press.
  • Deschaux-Dutard, D. (2009). “l’Allemagne et la défense européenne: une locomotive symbolique plus qu’opérationnelle?” Revue Défense Nationale, Cilt: 6, Sayı: 821, ss. 37–42.
  • Dockrill, S. (1991). Britain’s Policy for West German Rearmement 1950-1955, Cambridge University Press.
  • France Présidence de la République (2008). “The French White Paper on defence and national security”, https://media.nti.org/pdfs/15-Fr.pdf, (Erişim Tarihi: 20.03.2023).
  • France Présidence de la République (2013). “The French White Paper on defence and national security”, https://www.defense.gouv.fr/content/download/215253/2394121/file/White%20paper%20on%20defense%20%202013.pdf, (Erişim Tarihi: 20.03.2023).
  • Frankfurter Allgeimene (2018, 16 Kasım). “Words must now be followed by deeds”, https://www-faz-net.translate.goog/aktuell/politik/inland/europaeische-armee-von-der-leyen-will-parlamente-staerken-15892744.html?_x_tr_sl=en&_x_tr_tl=tr&_x_tr_hl=tr&_x_tr_pto=sc, (Erişim Tarihi: 20.03.2023).
  • Germany Federal Ministry of Defence (2006). “White Paper 2006 on German Security Policy and the Future of the Bundeswehr”, https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/156941/Germany%202006%20white%20paper.pdf, (Erişim Tarihi: 20.03.2023).
  • Germany Federal Ministry of Defence (2016). “White Paper 2016 on German Security Policy and the Future of the Bundeswehr”, https://issat.dcaf.ch/download/111704/2027268/2016%20White%20Paper.pdf, (Erişim Tarihi: 20.03.2023).
  • Grand, C. (2011).”The French Case: Livre Blanc sur la Défense et la Sécurité Nationale”, EU-US Security, IAI/UI/FRS/CSIS.
  • Helnarska, K. J. (2013). “The National Security of France in White Papers on Defense Continuity or change?”, Polish Political Science, Vol XLII.
  • Huntington, S. P. (2009). “The Lonely Superpower,” Foreign Affairs, Cilt: 78, Sayı: 2, ss. 35-49. J.C., (2018, 09 Ağustos). “Why Germany’s army is in a bad state”, The Economist, https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2018/08/09/why-germanys-army-is-in-a-bad-state, (Erişim Tarihi: 20.03.2023).
  • Kempin, R.ve Kunz, B. (2017). “France, Germany, and the Quest for European Strategic Autonomy: Franco-German Defence Cooperation in A New Era”, IFRI - Institut Français Des Relations Internationales, https://www.ifri.org/en/publications/notes-de-lifri/notes-cerfa/france-germany-and-quest-european-strategic-autonomy-franco, (Erişim Tarihi: 20.03.2023).
  • Lykeke Jr. A. (1989). “Strategy=E+W+M”, Military Review, LXIX. No 5.
  • Macdonald, P. K., ve Parent, J. M.(2011). “Graceful Decline? The Surprising Success of Great Power Retrenchment”, International Security, Cilt: 35, Sayı: 4, ss. 7–44.
  • Maïa De La B. ve Herszenhor, D. M. (2021, 02 Kasım). “Merkel joins Macron in calling for EU army to complement NATO”, Politico, https://www.politico.eu/article/angela-merkel-emmanuel-macron-eu-army-to-complement-nato/, (Erişim Tarihi: 20.03.2023).
  • Mearsheimer, J. J. ve Walt, S. (2023). “An Unnecessary War”, Foreign Policy, Cilt: 134, ss. 51-59.
  • Moravcsik, A. (2014, 13 Aralık). “Shaping Europe: France, Germany, and Embedded Bilateralism From the Elysée Treaty to Twenty-First Century Politics”, Foreign Affairs, https://www.foreignaffairs.com/reviews/capsule-review/2014-12-15/shaping-europe-france-germany-and-embedded-bilateralism-elysee, (Erişim Tarihi: 20.03.2023).
  • Munich Security Conference.org (2017). “Munich Security Report 2017”, (https://securityconference.org/en/publications/munich-security-report-2017/, (Erişim Tarihi: 20.03.2023).
  • NATO (2008, April 03). Bucharest Summit Declaration, https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/official_texts_8443.htm, (Erişim Tarihi: 11.04.2023).
  • Rasmussen, A.F. (2010). “The New Strategic Concept: Active Engagement, Modern Defence”, NATO.int, https://www.nato.int/cps/fr/natohq/opinions_66727.htm?selectedLocale=en, (Erişim Tarihi: 20.03.2023).
  • Russian Foreign Ministry (2013). The Foreign Policy Concept of the Russian Federation 2013, https://www.voltairenet.org/article202037.html, (Erişim Tarihi: 11.04.2023).
  • SIPRI (2019). “Trends in World Military Expenditure, 2018” SIPRI.org, https://www.sipri.org/sites/default/files/2019-04/fs_1904_milex_2018_0.pdf, (Erişim Tarihi: 20.03.2023).
  • SIPRI (2021). “World military spending rises to almost $2 trillion in 2020” SIPRI.org, https://www.sipri.org/media/press-release/2021/world-military-spending-rises-almost-2-trillion-2020, (Erişim Tarihi: 20.03.2023).
  • The Economist (2019, 07 Kasım). “Emmanuel Macron warns Europe: NATO is becoming brain-dead”, https://www.economist.com/europe/2019/11/07/emmanuel-macron-warns-europe-nato-is-becoming-brain-dead, (Erişim Tarihi: 20.03.2023).
  • TRT Haber (2022, 01 Haziran). “Almanya Avrupa’nın en büyük NATO ordusu için harekete geçti”, https://www.trthaber.com/haber/dunya/almanya-avrupanin-en-buyuk-nato-ordusu-icin-harekete-gecti-684735.html, (Erişim Tarihi: 20.03.2023).
  • Turhan, E. (2019). “Avrupa Birliği’nin Ortak Güvenlik ve Savunma Politikasının Savunma Boyutunun Gelişiminde Pesco’nun Rolü: Fırsatlar ve Zorluklar”, İşletme Fakültesi Dergisi, Cilt: 20, Sayı: 2, ss. 347-374.
  • U.S. Defense Department (2003). “Defense.gov Transcript: Secretary Rumsfeld Briefs at the Foreign Press Center,” https://web.archive.org/web/20140228200949/http://www.defense.gov/transcripts/transcript.aspx?transcriptid=1330, (Erişim Tarihi: 20.03.2023).
  • Walt, S. M. (1987). The Origins of Alliances, Cornell Studies in Security Affairs, 1st Edition, Cornell University Press.
  • Walt, S. M. (1991). “The Renaissance of Security Studies”, International Studies Quarterly, Cilt: 35, Sayı: 2, ss. 211-239.
  • Walt, S. M. (1998). “The Ties That Fray: Why Europe and America are Drifting Apart”, The National Interest, Cilt: 54, ss. 3-11.
There are 35 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language Turkish
Subjects International Relations
Journal Section Research Articles
Authors

Mehmet Alkanalka 0000-0002-2311-935X

Early Pub Date June 12, 2023
Publication Date June 30, 2023
Submission Date March 20, 2023
Published in Issue Year 2023 Volume: 3 Issue: 2

Cite

APA Alkanalka, M. (2023). Fransa ve Almanya’nın Avrupa Ordusu veya NATO İkilemi. Uluslararası İlişkiler Ve Politika Dergisi, 3(2), 121-138.

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