Australia should accept the European Union’s proposal to form a defence and security agreement. The closer relationship would complement Australia’s main security arrangements—the US alliance and AUKUS—and in no way displace them.
The government has sounded lukewarm about the agreement that EU European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed on 18 May. This is a mistake.
The possible partnership, much like those offered to and accepted by Britain, Japan and South Korea, would offer practical security benefits. Moreover, Australia should recognise that European countries are becoming much more serious in defence and security. And, because of the alignment of Beijing and Moscow, what happens in Europe is now ever more relevant to Indo-Pacific security.
In the partnership, Australia and the EU would help each other face such non-military threats as cyberattacks and disinformation, and they would work together in defence science and technology.
The partnership would not be a military alliance nor anything approaching one. The EU just isn’t that kind of defence and security actor.
That’s why the highly respected Ian Langford, writing in The Australian on 21 May, is mistaken in warning that the pact would risk diverting attention and money from Australia’s policy of building up highly capable forces for the Indo-Pacific.
European countries are finally alive to Russia’s persistent tampering with their social cohesion. They are finally worried about hybrid threats—not just cyber intrusions and attempts at misleading the public, but also foreign interference and sabotage.
Since China’s hybrid-threat tactics are even more covert, gradual and sophisticated than the Kremlin’s and since it has the capability and willingness to enforce deference economically, Australia should be interested in learning all it can from Europe.
The EU also offers immediate opportunities for Australian researchers and defence industry through its research and development funding. Australian manufacturing opportunities could arise, too—for example, in helping to build communications satellites for Ukraine.
Australia and European countries can act jointly to create supply chains for the critical materials that China is trying to monopolise. The US, more interested in self-sufficiency, may offer less of an opportunity for Australia in this field.
One reason for Australia’s apparent lack of interest in von der Leyen’s proposal may be underestimation of European seriousness in defence and security. We are not dealing here with the somnolent Europe of 10 or even five years ago.
Yes, Europe was slow to come out of post-Cold War hibernation in the face of territorial invasions and cyberattacks, but it is now on a double espresso macchiato.
This was clear at the annual Lennart Meri security conference in Tallinn this week, where European leaders demonstrated marked realism, self-confidence and unity. Estonia’s chief of defence, Major General Andrus Merilo, said, ‘we’re already in war; there is no reason to be afraid.’
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorsky promised the US’s newly arrived ambassador to NATO, Matthew Whitaker, that ‘he’ll be surprised at what the EU can unleash.’ German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has announced rebuilding the German armed forces to make them the strongest on the European continent. And planning is underway for a European ground and air presence in Ukraine as soon as a ceasefire is in place.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio predicts that, by the time of a NATO summit next month, all member countries will have agreed on a goal of spending 5 percent of GDP on defence within a decade.
The combined force of the European Commission, EU institutions, the European side of NATO and the collective leadership by London, Paris and Berlin make Europe a bloc to be reckoned with. Don’t dismiss it, Canberra.
There’s a particular advantage this year in Australia accepting the security agreement. Doing so would assure European countries that Australia still saw them as important security partners if, as seems likely, it choses Japan over Germany as the source of its next frigate design.
The notion that what happens in Europe doesn’t affect our region and vice versa is outdated. This is especially so since Russia and China three years ago declared a ‘no-limits’ partnership.
China’s growing military strength and aggression is a challenge for European countries as well as Australia. Since China is the greatest enabler of Russia’s ongoing aggression in Ukraine and its campaign against liberal-democratic nations, the European and Indo-Pacific theatres have indeed become connected. Without support from President Xi Jinping, Russia would already be on the ropes.
In considering the offer of a closer security relationship with the EU, Australia may be wary of offending other countries. It needn’t be. The US, keen to see its allies do more to help themselves, should applaud the move. Southeast Asian countries would see it as delivering more resources and technologies in support of regional stability.
Russia and China would not be happy, of course, but it’s their behaviour that is driving renewed security moves by the democracies. This is one that Australia should make.