Sven Biscop, author at Ejercitos Magazine

French troops deploying to Romania as part of the NATO Response Force

PESCO: the last chance

18/04/2024 Sven Bishop

For the external observer, the Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) is more equivalent to the long list of projects underway than to the 20 binding commitments, considered at the launch of this policy in 2017, as a before and after. At first glance, these 68 projects do not seem to pursue a single objective. Thus, it is worth asking, is the objective of PESCO clear even for those already initiated? In fact, it's not, and that remains the biggest obstacle to its success. At a time when a (second) strategic review of PESCO is being carried out, profound changes are required if it is to right its course. The objective of PESCO? Council Decision 2017/2315 establishing Permanent Structured Defense Cooperation (PESCO) stated that 'A long-term vision for PESCO could be to reach [Keep reading…]

Houthi helicopter attacking the Galaxy Leader ship in the Red Sea on November 20, 2023

The European Union and the Red Sea: this is geopolitics

24/01/2024 Sven Bishop

The European Union is preparing to launch a maritime operation aimed at protecting commercial shipping in the Red Sea. Its objective would be to protect civilian ships from attacks by the Yemeni Houthis. A welcome and necessary decision. Furthermore, and contrary to usual, it is not excessively late, since two months have passed since the attacks began. Many Europeans are unaware that what was once true for the British Empire is now also true for the European Union and the Red Sea. That is, the dependence on the maritime communication route that passes through the Suez Canal is a central characteristic of its geopolitical position. Not in vain, 30% of world container traffic passes through there and, in total, 12% of world trade. Now, and as a consequence of the crisis that [Keep reading…]

The European Union must rediscover geopolitics with all its consequences. Source - Euractiv.

The war over Ukraine and the rediscovery of geopolitics

31/07/2023 Sven Bishop

The essence of the war problem did not change due to the enormity of its scale. The line of the Central Powers from the North Sea to the Aegean and extending vaguely beyond even to the Suez Canal was, after all, no different from the line of a small army entrenched across an isthmus, with each flank resting on the water. As long as France was treated as an autonomous theater, a complete stalemate existed, and the front of the German invaders could neither be pierced nor diverted. But once the vision was extended to the entire theater of war, and that vast war was conceived as if it were a single battle, turning movements of a more momentous character were open to the Allies. Like many Allied leaders during World War I they could only see what they had [Keep reading…]

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during his visit to the European Parliament on February 9, 2023, in which he took the opportunity to continue calling for greater military support for Ukraine. Source - European Parliament.

From buffer state to border state: the EU and military support for Ukraine

08/03/2023 Sven Bishop

In June 2022, the European Union granted candidate status to Ukraine. An important political declaration that was welcomed as such in kyiv. However, for a country at war, symbols are not enough. Accepting as a candidate for membership a neighboring country that is being invaded must also mean accepting more responsibility for the survival of that neighbor. Ukraine was a buffer state; It has become a border state. The EU should finally present a comprehensive plan to provide long-term military support to Ukraine, gradually taking over the main effort currently being carried out by the United States. After a year of war, the time for partial decisions (a dozen tanks now, another dozen in a month) has passed. Plug state Without calling it that at any time, this is how the [Keep reading…]