Europe’s Strategic Decline and the Need for a European Renaissance
Hervé Morin, President of the Normandy Region and leader of the Centrist party in France, laments the decline of Europe and its loss of strategic autonomy. He argues that Europe has become complacent and has ceded its future and security to other powers, particularly the United States and Russia.
Morin draws comparisons to the post-World War II era, when France, under the leadership of General Charles de Gaulle, regained its sovereignty and reclaimed its role as a global power. He contrasts this with the current situation, where Europe has become increasingly dependent on other countries to determine its fate.
The author notes that the United States has shifted its focus from the Atlantic to the Pacific, leaving Europe vulnerable. He criticizes European countries for failing to develop a common defense policy and for relying on NATO, which is dominated by the United States.
Morin argues that Europe has become too individualistic and preoccupied with secondary issues, while neglecting the real threats to its existence. He questions whether the United States would come to Europe’s aid in the event of a conflict with Russia, given its own interests in other regions.
The author suggests that the only way to reverse Europe’s decline is to break free from the constraints of the European Union and its bureaucratic processes. He believes that France and the United Kingdom, as the only two European countries with significant military capabilities, should take the lead in establishing a new security alliance.
Morin proposes a treaty similar to the Lancaster Treaty, which was signed between the United Kingdom and France in 2010 and aimed to strengthen defense cooperation between the two countries. He believes that such a treaty would allow Europe to take control of its own security and regain its status as a global player.
The author concludes by urging Europeans to wake up to the dangers facing the continent and to take action to protect their future. He argues that Europe’s peace and prosperity cannot be guaranteed by others and that it must be built by Europeans themselves.
Additional Points:
- Morin criticizes Germany for re-arming without a clear strategic vision and for relying on American military equipment.
- He highlights the fact that two of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council with nuclear weapons (France and the United Kingdom) are European, but that Europe’s military capabilities remain fragmented.
- The author suggests that Brexit may have created an opportunity for the United Kingdom to play a more active role in European defense.
- He believes that the Treaty of Lancaster could be expanded to include other European countries that share the goal of building a strong and independent European security system.
