A Changing Europe: Strategic Autonomy and Security in 2025 and Beyond

[Celerity]

Strategic autonomy, internal divisions, and external threats: Can the EU adapt and lead in an era of profound change?

https://www.socialeurope.eu/a-changing-europe-strategic-autonomy-and-security-in-2025-and-beyond



Henning Meyer: Almut, thank you very much for joining me to discuss the critical issues of European foreign and security policy at a time of profound change as we move into 2025. To get us started, the concept of strategic autonomy has been prominently discussed within the European Union. How do you assess its relevance in today’s environment, and what does achieving it actually entail?

Almut Möller: Thank you, Henning. It’s great to join you in this conversation and dive into these crucial topics. Strategic autonomy is a concept that can sometimes feel abstract—almost like something developed in a laboratory. However, it’s deeply rooted in real-world challenges. Over the years, the hope that the global setup naturally reflected the interests of the EU and its member states has been contested for quite some time.

The world today, in 2025, poses serious and existential threats to Europe. Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine is the most pressing example, exposing Europe’s vulnerabilities and the necessity for greater strategic autonomy. On top of this, the unpredictability of the United States under President Trump’s second administration raises the stakes. While there is consensus that Europeans need to take more responsibility for their own security, the situation is complicated by Trump’s erratic leadership, which forces Europe to contend with an ally who will, at times, be openly malign, unpredictable, and fast moving.

For the first time since the early 1990s, the EU must grapple with the urgent task of creating strategic autonomy amid unprecedented challenges. This isn’t just about military matters; it spans economic security, technological resilience, and the ability to act decisively in an unstable world. Achieving this will be difficult, as the EU faces a global environment that is ever less favorable to its founding principles and goals.

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