Security and defense pacts of the European Union

  European Union

  Security and defense partners of the EU

As of November 2024, the European Union has signed security and defence pacts with six countries: Albania, Japan, Moldova, North Macedonia, Norway, and South Korea.

Rather than concluding treaties or alliances with external partners, the European Union's approach towards security and defence has mostly been focused towards what has proven to be a slow and gradual internal consolidation since the 1950s. For example, in the early post-war period, the Western Union and the European Defence Community both failed and were cannibalized by NATO. An initial impetus towards foreign policy coordination was brought about by the European Political Cooperation, which was replaced by the Common Foreign and Security Policy pillar in 1993. The European Security Strategy was launched in 2003, and was replaced by an updated European Union Global Strategy in 2016. The Treaty of Lisbon introduced the Common Security and Defence Policy, which, among other things, established a mutual defence clause between EU countries for the very first time.

Since 2016, a number of new initiatives were set in motion to actualize the new security strategy in the wake of the Russian annexation of Crimea, Brexit, and the election of Donald Trump. Among these are PESCO (Permanent Structured Cooperation), CARD (Coordinated Annual Review on Defence), EDF (European Defence Fund), MPCC (Military Planning and Conduct Capability), and DG DEFIS (Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space). There has also been a growing number of calls for the creation of a continental defence force or even that of an EU army, especially after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The idea of increasing common defence capabilities also enjoys wide acceptance among EU citizens.

Starting from May 2024, in accordance with the stated aims of the Strategic Compass that was approved in 2022, the EU has sought to enhance its partnership toolkit through tailored bilateral agreements with like-minded countries and strategic partners.

In this context, in line with its internal coordination in terms of defence policy, and given its new objectives, the European Union has intensified its external engagement in this area by signing security and defence pacts with the following countries:

Countries that signed security and defense partnerships with the European Union

Country	Date	Details
Moldova	21 May 2024	Two years after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Moldova became the first country to sign a security and defense partnership with the European Union. In order to enhance the country's resilience from external threats and destabilization efforts, the agreement is broadly aimed at addressing common security challenges, strengthening Moldova's defense sector, as well as expanding cooperation in areas of border management, crisis management, counter-terrorism, human trafficking, organized crime, cybersecurity and combating disinformation. At the time of signing, Moldova had been an EU candidate since June 2022. Moldovan neutrality is enshrined in its constitution.
Norway	28 May 2024	Norway, a long-standing member of NATO and the European Economic Area, became the second country to sign a security and defense partnership with the European Union. The pact aims to deepen their strong bilateral relations in the context of EU and Norway's continued support to Ukraine, as well as Norway's participation in EU missions and its involvement in EU defence initiatives. Among the areas of strengthened cooperation echoed in the agreement were maritime security, resilience of critical infrastructure (e.g. underwater infrastructure), space security, cybersecurity, hybrid threats, counter-terrorism, and other related areas of concern.
Japan	1 November 2024	Amid growing tensions with China, North Korea and Russia, Japan became the first Asian country to sign a security and defense partnership with the European Union. Given their common strategic interests both in Europe and in the Indo-Pacific, the two parties agree to increase their cooperation in areas of maritime security, space security, cybersecurity, hybrid threats, counter-terrorism, and the exchange of information on defence industry-related matters. Japan is in a military alliance with the United States, and is also a member of the Quad. The pacifist clause in the Japanese Constitution outlaws war as a means to settle international disputes.
South Korea	4 November 2024	Against the backdrop of mounting friction in the Indo-Pacific area, as well as North Korea's involvement in the Russian invasion of Ukraine, South Korea became the second Asian country to sign a security and defense partnership with the European Union. Considering that South Korea and the EU's perspectives are aligned in terms of their security environment, they agree to further their cooperation in matters of international peace and crisis management (e.g. peacekeeping operations), maritime security, space security, cybersecurity, hybrid threats, counter-terrorism, and external aspects of economic security. South Korea has been in a military alliance with the United States since 1953.
Albania	19 November 2024	The ongoing, unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression by Russia against Ukraine highlights the critical importance of unity and close cooperation within the EU and with its closest partners. Albania is a candidate to join the European Union and has long been a valuable and trusted partner for the EU in the areas of security and defence. As such, it is also actively contributing to EU Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) missions and operations.
North Macedonia	19 November 2024	The ongoing, unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression by Russia against Ukraine highlights the critical importance of unity and close cooperation within the EU and with its closest partners. North Macedonia is a candidate to join the European Union and an important and valuable partner for the EU in the areas of security and defence. As such, it is also an active third state participant in the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP).

Keir Starmer's cabinet has also shown interest in a security pact between the United Kingdom and the European Union.

See also

• Common Foreign and Security Policy
• Common Security and Defence Policy
• History of the Common Security and Defence Policy
• European Union as an emerging superpower
• European Defence Agency
• NATO
• European Union–NATO relations
• Major non-NATO ally
• Moldova–European Union relations
• Norway–European Union relations
• Japan–European Union relations
• South Korea–European Union relations