Transatlantic Breakfast: Reforming European Defence in a Time of Looming U.S. Disengagement

As Europe confronts a rapidly shifting transatlantic and global order—amid Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine and a surge in hybrid attacks on NATO territory—it must urgently find ways to build up its defence capabilities and strategically realign its security architecture, also in the face of declining U.S. military involvement. The latest Russian provocations, including drone incursions, and repeated airspace violations, have once again revealed both Europe’s exposure and the absence of a coherent strategic response.

In this event, Max Bergmann, co-author of the recent article “Getting Out: How Europe Can Defend Itself with Less America,” will present his framework for addressing European defence amidst dwindling American support, exploring the structural and political obstacles to effective defence integration in Europe. How could a pan-European expeditionary force, joint procurement mechanisms, and harmonized command structures be realized? What challenges would this entail, and wherein lie opportunities for transnational cooperation? How could this look in the German context? En bref, how Europe can act credibly and independently on its own defence and strengthen its strategic centre of gravity - while preserving the transatlantic partnership?

With:

• Max Bergmann, Director of the Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program and the Stuart Center in Euro-Atlantic and Northern European Studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)

Moderation: Georg McCutcheon, Policy Advisor European Union, European Union & North America Division, Heinrich Böll Foundation

This event takes place as part of the Heinrich Böll Foundation’s Transatlantic Breakfast series, an established breakfast format where experts and lawmakers discuss their theses and expertise on transatlantic topics over breakfast.

Contact: Deitra Myers, Division European Union and North America, Heinrich Böll Foundation Berlin
E myers@boell.de

» Participation on site
at the the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Conference Center, Schumannstr. 8, 10117 Berlin

Please register in advance. Unfortunately, the number of seats for this event are limited. If we are at capacity, the conversation will be transmitted via video to other rooms.

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