Self-reliance

Following France, Germany became the second European Union (EU) member to sign a cooperation agreement with the United Kingdom on security and defense.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, US President Joe Biden, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and French President Emmanuel Macron in Berlin, Germany, on October 18, 2024.

Essentially, the agreement between the UK and France and the agreement between the UK and Germany are not significantly different in purpose and content. These include cooperation in the manufacture of new modern weapons and military equipment, joint exercises, and coordinated military actions both bilaterally and within the framework of NATO, of which all three are members. All three consider this bilateral security and defense cooperation as a pillar of European security, the core of Europe's convergence of potential and strength within NATO.

For Britain, such security and defense agreements help the island nation maintain its foothold and avoid being marginalized in the political , military, and defense game in Europe after Britain leaves the EU ( Brexit) and simultaneously exits the common mechanisms and frameworks of EU member states for security, military, and defense cooperation.

Both France and Germany need such cooperation with the UK for their security objectives in Europe, given that the UK possesses nuclear weapons as well as strong military and defense capabilities within NATO. Naturally, France and Germany also pursue their own goals and interests in building and promoting security and defense cooperation with the UK in the post-Brexit era.

The common thread among these three countries is the understanding that European nations must truly take initiative in ensuring their own security, and therefore must cooperate with each other. This need arose and became urgent due to the war in Ukraine, and because of new concerns regarding their strategic military ally, the United States, given the likely prolonged conflict in Ukraine and the upcoming but unpredictable US presidential election. This context compels them to proactively address both short-term and long-term security concerns.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tu-than-van-dong-185241024210329453.htm