The Imperative of European Strategic Autonomy
European leaders increasingly underscore the need for “strategic autonomy” – the capacity for the European Union (EU) to act independently to safeguard its interests in a volatile world. This concept gained prominence in the EU’s 2016 Global Strategy, which called for Europe to steer towards strategic autonomy in decision-making and action, relying on its own resources and members rather than external powers for security. The push for autonomy reflects hard lessons from recent crises. From supply chain disruptions in a global pandemic to geopolitical shocks like Russia’s war on Ukraine, Europe has confronted the risks of overreliance on foreign suppliers and allies. Ensuring the ability to chart its own course has thus become a cornerstone of EU policy rhetoric, bridging domains from defense to technology and trade. Yet strategic autonomy is not about isolation; EU officials stress it must be pursued in an “open” manner – “as open as possible, as autonomous as necessary” – maintaining international partnerships while building self-reliance.
