Is it Possible to Establish a European Army?: Understanding Historical Experience and a Vision for the Future

Year 2023, Volume: 22 Issue: 3, 978 - 1003, 28.07.2023

İbrahim Çağrı Erkul

https://doi.org/10.21547/jss.1242173

Abstract

The cycle between war and peace in European history has reinforced the intellectual structure and actions of realism irreversibly for European states. The EU model opposed this realist approach and made peace possible among the member states. In this respect, the EU fulfilled its function successfully as a security system. However, the EU could not show the same success in establishing a supranational European Defence Community or a European army. Regarding this failure, the article claims that the main reasons caused the failed attempt of the idea of a European army during the Cold War has remained relatively unchanged in the post-Cold War era. To explain this claim, in this article, the emergence of the idea of a European army will be examined based on the common threat faced by Europe after WWII. In addition, the main difficulties in implementing the idea, and the developments in this subject will be examined based on the problematic attitude of France in particular. Subsequently, a detailed answer will be sought based on integration, security, military issues, foreign relations and especially sovereignty to the question of why an autonomous and operational European army couldn’t be established both in the Cold War and post-Cold War era and do the EU nations want a European army indeed. Finally, a future prediction will be made about a European army by taking into account the current developments in international relations, Brexit, relations of the EU with the U.S. and NATO and the lessons learned from the historical process.

Keywords

European Union, European Defence Community, Western European Union, NATO, CSDP

Bir Avrupa Ordusu Kurmak Mümkün mü?: Tarihsel Tecrübeyi Anlamak ve Bir Gelecek Öngörüsü

Abstract

Avrupa tarihinde görülen savaş ve barış arasındaki döngü, siyasal gerçekliğin beraberinde getirdiği düşünce yapısını ve eylemleri, Avrupalı devletler için geri döndürülemez bir biçimde pekiştirmiştir. Avrupa Birliği modeli, bahsi geçen siyasal gerçeklik anlayışına karşı çıkarak üye olan devletler arasında barışı mümkün kılmış ve bir güvenlik sistemi olarak işlevini yerine getirerek başarılı olmuştur. Ancak Avrupa Birliği üyesi ülkeler, aynı başarıyı uluslarüstü bir Avrupa Savunma Topluluğu’nun veya bir Avrupa ordusunun kurulması noktasında gösterememiştir. Bu başarısızlığa ilişkin olarak makale Soğuk Savaş sırasında bir Avrupa ordusu fikrinin başarısızlığa uğramasına neden olan ana sorunların, Soğuk Savaş sonrası dönemde de göreli olarak değişmediği iddiasındadır. Bu iddianın açıklanabilmesi için makalede öncelikle Avrupa ordusu fikrinin düşünsel olarak ortaya çıkışı, II. Dünya Savaşı sonrasında Batı Avrupa’nın yüzleştiği ortak tehdit temelinde incelenecektir. Ayrıca Avrupa ordusu fikrinin uygulanmasında karşılaşılan temel zorluklar ve burada yaşanan gelişmeler, özellikle Fransa’nın sorunlu tutumu temelinde ele alınacaktır. Akabinde hem Soğuk Savaş dönemi hem de Soğuk Savaş sonrası dönemde otonom ve işlevsel bir Avrupa ordusu niçin kurulamadı ve AB üyesi ülkeler gerçekten bir Avrupa ordusu kurmak istiyorlar mı? sorularına Avrupa bütünleşmesi, güvenlik, askerî konular, dış ilişkiler ve egemenlik özelinde çok yönlü olarak yanıt aranacaktır. Son olarak tarihsel süreçten elde edilen derslerin yanında Avrupa Birliği’nin ABD ve NATO ile ilişkileri, Brexit ve uluslararası ilişkilerde yaşanan güncel gelişmeler dikkate alınarak Avrupa ordusu ile ilgili bir gelecek öngörüsünde bulunulacaktır.

Keywords

Avrupa Birliği, Avrupa Savunma Topluluğu, Batı Avrupa Birliği, NATO, OGSP

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