Why PESCO Should Focus More on Including Small Countries?

The Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) framework has been an essential part of Europe’s strategy for collective defense and provides a platform where collaborative work by the EU member states for the development and enhancement of military capabilities is facilitated. Long-term efficacy will depend on full involvement by every country in PESCO, and actually I see that sentence is even more meaningful when we talk particularly about the smaller countries. Projects such as the European Patrol Corvette EPC with Greece and Portugal showcase the integration of these smaller countries within complex projects in defense. These nations provide distinctive geographic and operational advantages, including Portugal’s presence in the Atlantic and Greece’s expertise in naval operations, which are crucial for fortifying Europe’s maritime defense. Emphasizing their participation not only improves the projects under PESCO but also guarantees an equitable distribution of the benefits of innovation throughout the European Union.

Ireland’s involvement in PESCO is noticeable at a noteworthy moment of strategic significance for small countries vis-à-vis the assumption of collective security challenges; the protection of critical infrastructure, such as undersea cables, upon which global communications and trade depend, rises capably to certain high-consequence challenges. The participation shapes closer unity and solidarity within the EU and proves that the size of a country is not an indicator of the contribution one can make to collective security. Moreover, Ireland’s involvement points out the capability of smaller countries in providing added strength to Europe’s security framework.

The structure of PESCO offers a platform for collaboration, but actively prioritizing smaller nations ensures their unique strengths are fully utilized. Smaller states often have more specialized capabilities than their larger ones. Take for example Malta’s contribution to strategic oversight in the Mediterranean: this helps with the monitoring of migration and maritime security. Estonia’s excellence in cybersecurity reinforces the digital defenses of Europe. Emphasizing these contributions will make PESCO even more capable, hence further balancing out the resilience and agility of the defense ecosystem in response to all kinds of…