Strategic Assessment

In December 2017, 25 defense ministers from European Union countries concluded an agreement on a program for permanent structured cooperation in the European security community (PESCO). This formative decision comes against the backdrop of a series of security developments that prompted European leaders to take steps to establish a pan-European security community based on cooperation on numerous security issues, such as: supervision of international waters, cooperation between intelligence services, and development of cyber capabilities. The article first presents the historical developments of the European security community and the challenges that led to the signing of the PESCO agreement. It then focuses on the objectives of the European army, its institutional and economic infrastructure, and the projects within its purview. The article also discusses the strategic implications of the agreement for the ties with NATO, Russia, and the UK, and the ties between EU members. It contends that although Israel has interests and expertise in many of PESCO’s areas, its political and security interests do not warrant participation in the agreement.