The European Union’s pursuit of strategic autonomy: Hedging through the dual-use of space

Space matters to the European Union. With its dual-use space applications, the EU has, or is in the process of achieving, capabilities to produce hyperspectral imagery, provide high-precision navigation services, and secure means of communication, among other services, for civilian and military users in Europe. Space has become an important instrument for the EU in achieving its security and defence policy objectives. The EU finds itself in an international system of constant change. The United States has gradually shifted its attention to East Asia during the post-Cold War era because of China’s growth and potential bid for regional hegemony. At the same time the EU’s perception of its security situation has changed dramatically from the launch of the European Security Strategy in 2003 to the EU Global Strategy in 2016. Threats such as terrorism, state failure in Europe’s neighbourhood, and an unstable Middle Eastern region, not to say Russia’s aggression towards Ukraine in 2014, are addressed in the Global Strategy, and a common EU defence is an important instrument with which to address these threats. In this thesis I argue that the EU is pursuing a hedging strategy vis-á-vis the United States, to hedge against Washington’s abandonment from transatlantic security cooperation. The fear of abandonment is a product of Washington’s strategic shift towards East Asia. By adopting both cooperative and confrontational measures, the EU seeks to safeguard its security investments. If the US abandons Europe, the EU will be closer to having adequate capabilities to take care of its own security and defence. If the US remains a key player in Europe in the future, the EU will be a stronger partner. The EU’s dual-use space applications are important enablers for the EU’s strategic autonomy, and instruments to meet the objectives set out in the Common Security and Defence Policy