A "quantum leap" in the EU's strategic posture? EU relations with third countries amidst new global challenges

Abstract

The EU announced a ‘quantum leap’ in its security and defence policy in the Strategic Compass. In the midst of Russia’s war on Ukraine, we have heard an intensified discourse on the EU’s geostrategic role in the world. The aim of this panel is to review the EU’s global role amidst new challenges through specific cases of its relations with third countries. To this aim, the panel starts with the review of the EU’s efforts in building solidarities with the Global South in the context of Russia’s aggression. The second contribution looks at the EU’UK cooperation after Brexit and asserts that Russia’s war on Ukraine has not necessarily led to a higher likelihood of any formalised relationship on foreign, defence or security policy between the UK and EU. The third paper reviews the role of third countries, such as the US, UK or Canada in the EU’s response to Russia’s war of aggression. The fourth paper focuses on the transatlantic relations and the collective efforts to explore and expand into space. Finally, the fourth paper considers the implications of the EU-New Zealand free trade agreement for the EU’s global role.

Title	Details
Building a community of support for Ukraine in the Global South: Evaluating the success and failure of the EU’s policy	View Paper Details
Cooperation without Agreement: EU-UK foreign and security cooperation in the aftermath of Russia’s war on Ukraine	View Paper Details
The EU’s response to Russia’s war of aggression: social learning and informal patterns of cooperation with third countries	View Paper Details
The EU-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement: Implications for the EU's Global Standing	View Paper Details