In its new report, 'A minefield of opportunity - Transatlantic defence in the Trump era', published on Tuesday 28 January, the Friends of Europe think tank has put forward ten recommendations for strengthening transatlantic cooperation following the US presidential elections in November.
Paul Taylor, the author of the 90-page report, calls for the United States and the EU to establish a “joint challenge fund” for companies on both sides of the Atlantic to collaborate on “selected defence-related technologies in the areas of artificial intelligence, quantum computing, cyber security, digital communications equipment and space vehicle protection”.
The report also proposes establishing a transatlantic panel of experts to recommend mutual compromises on technology transfer, intellectual property rights, security of supply and export controls. Based on the panel’s recommendations, the US and the EU should hold direct talks to explore the scope for mutual regulatory disarmament to promote defence industry cooperation.
The EU should ensure that projects funded and promoted by the European Defence Fund (EDF) and Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) are aligned with capability gaps identified by NATO. The EU should also “demonstrate its goodwill” by rapidly concluding an administrative agreement between Washington and the European Defence Agency to facilitate cooperation in identifying priority capability gaps and fixes.
In addition, EU-NATO cooperation on military mobility and cyber security should be given high priority. Both sides should make maximum use of NATO-brokered multinational capability programmes and common funded enablers to promote efficiency and interoperability.
To read the report, go to: http://bit.ly/2RZC00O (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)