Leading from Outside? UK-EU Security Coordination after Ukraine

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine occurred at a time when cracks had opened in the Western alliance, one of the most visible being the Brexit divorce, which de-linked the United Kingdom from EU foreign and security policy institutions. Yet Putin’s was has contributed to greater coordination in this key relationship over time as the mutual value of the UK and EU to one another’s security policy has become increasingly evident. Britain’s leadership role in the early months of the conflict, its hawkish (and accurate) view of Russia’s intentions and its pro-NATO approach all increased the recognition among EU partners of Britain’s indispensability to the European security architecture. Meanwhile, the EU’s emerging role in the war effort and its demonstration of ‘collective power’ across a range of areas, including energy policy, aid coordination, military training, civilian reconstruction, and future enlargement have all made engagement with the EU more important for British policy. The result has been a significant increase in coordination between the UK and the EU in security and defence matters, with high-level talks, coordination on key initiatives, and British participation in new EU defence structures. While questions of resolve and Western solidarity remain, the weakest link in the chain has been partially repaired over the course of the conflict.