From the End of Bipolarity to the Petersberg Declaration (1990–92)

Abstract

Did the incentive structure identified above affect UK and German policy toward European defense cooperation? There are several indications that it did and this chapter will present them for the first period immediately following the end of the Cold War. This period was characterized by a search for ways to adjust NATO, WEU and the EC to the new international situation and in this context a variety of ways to organize European defense cooperation were discussed. Concurring with their incentive structures both the United Kingdom and Germany were willing to reinforce security and defense cooperation among European states, inside and outside of NATO. Concurring with the differences in their incentive structures, the United Kingdom put more emphasis on NATO and was particularly keen not to harm Anglo-American institutions; whereas German policy focused more on the EC and WEU, yet also remained aware of the implications for NATO’s collective defense institutions and attempted to keep these intact as well.