Among the initiatives launched by the EU in response to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, some have been undertaken within the framework of the Common Security and Defence Policy. These concern both support for the attacked country and, at the institutional level, the development of the European Defence Policy. This chapter focuses on the latter, arguing that while the outbreak of the Ukraine war had a limited impact on defence developments, the so-called ‘Trump Effect’ has been considerably more influential. Indeed, the chapter points out that the recently announced U.S. disengagement from NATO sparked the start of ‘European rearmament’—an expression that has gained currency in the public debate since the adoption of the Joint White Paper for European Defence (Readiness 2030) of March 2025. A discussion of Readiness 2030 and its implementation shows that the driving forces behind European defence developments are now financial resources and the limited time available to establish the necessary industrial and technological base to achieve ‘genuine strategic autonomy’. The chapter concludes by offering some considerations on the contents of Readiness 2030, as well as a brief overview of the latest developments of the European Defence Policy and their short-term implications.
The Limited Role of the War in Ukraine in the Development of the European Defence Policy
Luca Paladini
2026-01-01
Abstract
Among the initiatives launched by the EU in response to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, some have been undertaken within the framework of the Common Security and Defence Policy. These concern both support for the attacked country and, at the institutional level, the development of the European Defence Policy. This chapter focuses on the latter, arguing that while the outbreak of the Ukraine war had a limited impact on defence developments, the so-called ‘Trump Effect’ has been considerably more influential. Indeed, the chapter points out that the recently announced U.S. disengagement from NATO sparked the start of ‘European rearmament’—an expression that has gained currency in the public debate since the adoption of the Joint White Paper for European Defence (Readiness 2030) of March 2025. A discussion of Readiness 2030 and its implementation shows that the driving forces behind European defence developments are now financial resources and the limited time available to establish the necessary industrial and technological base to achieve ‘genuine strategic autonomy’. The chapter concludes by offering some considerations on the contents of Readiness 2030, as well as a brief overview of the latest developments of the European Defence Policy and their short-term implications.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
