Common Security and Defence Policy of the European Union: Implications and Future Perspectives for Latvia

For years the EU security and defence policy (so as the defence of most of the EU countries) was neglected, but in the recent years situation has markedly changed: not only the security landscape but also national and EU policies have been reinvigorated. Since Latvia joined both NATO and the EU in 2004, Latvia's defence policy has been primarily based on the participation in NATO, but the EU has held a secondary, complementary role. If the initial major EU capability projects (like EU missions and EU Battlegroups) had only a limited impact on the Latvian defence approach, creation of the Permanent Structural Cooperation (PESCO) and European Defence Fund (EDF) have raised more extensive discussions and proposals for action. How should Latvia respond to these initiatives? If and how they can complement NATO and not duplicate it? How to manoeuvre between the transatlantic dialogue and preferences of the “Old Europe”? The aim of this proposal is to: 1) whether PESCO and EDF have changed the security thinking and security options Latvia? 2) How a more assertive Latvia’s role in PESCO and EDF could influence participation in NATO? 3) what kind of other cooperation projects can be developed under PESCO compatible with the interests of Latvia. Research is based on analysis of EU CSDP historical development, Latvian national security and defence strategic documents, facts and statistics on the Latvian participation in CSDP, and interviews with officials of the Ministry of Defence of Latvia. Latvia participates in PESCO’s Military Mobility project, as well as in the Military Mobility and Maritime (semi-) Autonomous Systems for mine Countermeasures. Latvian decision makers are open to new proposals for projects under the PESCO, though only based on strict self-interest. Participation in PESCO: 1) is a way for enhanced cooperation and integration and capacity building; 2) joint projects could encourage the involvement and interest of other countries and companies; 3) it has an opportunity to promote research in various fields. Potential challenges and risks of enhanced cooperation in the framework of PESCO: 1) prioritization of projects and major cooperation areas; 2) risks of compatibility with NATO. For future research, it is necessary to identify the most important risks for enhanced cooperation and future impact on Latvia’s policy by taking part in PESCO and EDF.