Closer cooperation agreed
NATO and the EU are gearing up for Putin, China and the climate
01/10/2023, 12:45 p.m
Russia’s attack on Ukraine, China’s growing self-confidence, foreign interference and, last but not least, climate change – the EU and NATO have long seen the need to cooperate more closely. It is questionable, however, whether Turkey will allow this.
NATO and the EU want to work together even more closely. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU Council President Charles Michel signed a declaration to this effect in Brussels. Among other things, it aims to improve cooperation in the protection of critical infrastructure, such as energy and water supplies.
The text also mentions, for example, how to deal with information manipulation and interference from abroad and the security policy consequences of climate change as areas for increased cooperation. Global warming is considered a risk to peace and security because it threatens the livelihoods of millions of people. Even more humanitarian catastrophes, flight and migration as well as increasing conflicts over resources such as water and land could be the result.
China topic for the first time
As security threats and challenges evolve in scope and scope, cooperation will be taken to the next level, the text said. To this end, the cooperation will be expanded and deepened. For the first time, possible threats from China are also addressed in a statement on EU-NATO cooperation. China’s growing self-confidence and policies pose challenges that need to be addressed, it said. However, Russia’s war against Ukraine is cited as the greatest security threat.
The statement builds on two previous joint statements from 2016 and 2018. In these, for example, it was agreed to organize coordinated exercises and to strengthen cooperation in the field of cyber security.
Turkey causes a headache
Work on the third joint EU-NATO statement began in 2021 and should have been completed that same year. However, coordination problems on both sides repeatedly led to delays. In principle, it is also questionable whether a substantial expansion of the cooperation can really succeed. One reason is that Turkey, as a NATO member, has so far prevented agreements that would enable a comprehensive and uncomplicated exchange of confidential information with the EU. At least military cooperation remains very complicated or superficial in some areas.
Turkey justifies its blockade by not recognizing the Republic of Cyprus, which joined the EU in 2004, under international law. Turkish troops occupied the north of the island in 1974 when Greek putschists wanted to force Cyprus to be annexed to Greece. As a result, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, recognized only by Turkey, was created in the north. The government of the Republic of Cyprus governs the southern part.