RUSI Publishes Updated Map Outlining UK's Security Relationship with Europe
As part of RUSI's European Security in Transformation programme, the Institute - together with the Konrad Adenauer-Stiftung - has published an updated map of the UK's network of security relationships in Europe.
The map forms an important part of RUSI’s work to analyse Europe’s evolving security architecture, as well as the UK and wider continent’s defence readiness in the context of worsening geopolitical tension across the world. The map, which can be accessed here:
- Contains a total of 129 bilateral agreements with 44 countries;
- Details the 18 European security organisations, frameworks and initiatives that the UK is a member of;
- Locates UK bases and forces across Europe, including major UK led exercises.
Several key trends can be drawn from the updated map, highlighting how the UK's security relationship with its partners has changed since 2016. In particular:
- The UK has significantly increased the bilateralisation of its defence and security relationships across Europe since 2016 due to Brexit. Defence and security was not included in the 2020 UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA), which governs the post-Brexit UK-EU relationship. Therefore, the UK can only gain bilateral agreements on policy areas outside of it;
- The UK now has eleven active defence and security agreements with Ukraine – more than any other European country;
- The UK’s other defence and security focus is Northern Europe and the 10 members of the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF).
RUSI's Senior Research Fellow for European Security, Ed Arnold, who led on the production of the map at the Institute, said:
This map is a valuable resource for anyone wanting to better understand the bilateralisation of UK defence, security and foreign policy relationships over the past decade, particularly following Brexit and Russia’s war against Ukraine. I regularly use it during my own research as it displays a large amount of data in a single place which is easy to visualise.
Ed Arnold
Senior Research Fellow, European Security
Matthias Barner, Director of KAS UK and Ireland said:
This map is an invaluable tool for anyone seeking to understand the complexities of UK defence, security, and foreign policy relationships in general, but especially also in the context of immerging threats in Europe and globally. It simplifies the process of researching the maze of foreign policy agreements and cooperation, offering a clear and comprehensive visual representation of a wealth of data in one place. I, personally, find it immensely helpful in understanding why the UK, Germany, and their allies collaborate so effectively.
Matthias Barner, Director of KAS UK and Ireland
This project has been made possible by the generous support of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung.
About RUSI's European Security in Transformation Programme
The European Security in Transformation Programme analyses perennial and emerging security challenges for the wider Euro-Atlantic region within the context of the UK’s national security. As European powers and groupings respond to these challenges and adapt their approaches to confront them, navigating this complex environment is an imperative for the UK. The programme analyses these developments to assess the impact on the UK and identify opportunities and options for UK policymakers.
For more information on the programme, see here.
About Konrad Adenauer-Stiftung
As a German political foundation, the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) UK & Ireland closely collaborates with partners in the fields of politics, think tanks, academia, and civil society. Political dialogue, analysis, and information dissemination are our core tasks. Our goal is to strengthen cross-border cooperation and mutual understanding between Germany, the UK, and Ireland. We achieve this through a variety of projects and dialogue programs aimed at enhancing people's understanding of each other and enabling more effective collaboration. We contribute to fostering constructive and friendly dialogue in the face of significant political challenges.