European defence as a political project for European integration, the case study of France

Security is one of the primary concerns of every society and the source of its existence. Since the beginning, the European Union has outsourced its security and defence to the United States, being economically dependent on them. This has resulted in a Union built in a half, that would be indeed defined as “an economic giant, a political dwarf and a military worm”. However, concerns over defence have recently revived interest in Europe, as the geopolitical scenario evolved dramatically. Specifically, two are the major events that broke out and made security again a priority for European member States. The return of the war on European soil, with the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and the re-election of Donald Trump as President of the United States in 2025. The latter has made clear that the US will no longer be responsible for European security, revitalizing the debate over the constitution of a real security and defence Union. This analysis takes into consideration the case of France. Its importance lies in the role the country has always perceived playing in the European scenario, willing to be the leader in it, as well as in the budget and objectives the country has set up in the defence area. Also, the relation with Germany is considered, seen it as crucial for the construction of a European defence framework. For France, defence has always been a priority. The country considers itself as an example to follow at the European level and it wants to lead Europe towards a more united approach. So, the thesis aims to analyze how has France adapted its positions and policies on European security and defence in response to the Ukrainian war, how has Trump’s re-election fostered these developments and if these changes could configurate as a boost towards the process of European integration.