EU-China Security Relations: To what extent is there room for military cooperation in Africa?
Author
Giamello, Giovanni
Term
4. term
Publication year
2019
Submitted on
2019-05-05
Pages
70
Abstract
Med USA’s tilbagetrækning fra international sikkerhedspolitik indtager EU og Kina en større rolle, hvilket øger interessen for mulighederne for samarbejde mellem dem. Specialet undersøger: I hvilket omfang er der rum for militært samarbejde mellem EU og Kina i Afrika? Med udgangspunkt i parternes omfattende strategiske partnerskab og deres voksende militære tilstedeværelse på kontinentet analyseres to cases, hvor begge er aktive: Adenbugten og Mali. EU opererer gennem CSDP-missioner, mens Kina enten agerer som selvstændig aktør (i Adenbugten) eller i FN’s fredsbevarende ramme (i Mali). Ved hjælp af International Cooperation Theory undersøger studiet de faktiske interaktioner mellem EUNAVFOR og Kinas PLA-N i bekæmpelsen af pirateri samt den mere komplekse dynamik i Mali under MINUSMA. Fundene peger på, at koordinerede indsatser til søs i Adenbugten er i udvikling og rummer større potentiale for samarbejde, mens fraværet af direkte interaktion og ambivalente relationer mellem visse EU-medlemsstaters styrker og kinesiske styrker i Mali betydeligt begrænser mulighederne. Samlet set er potentialet for militært samarbejde kontekstsensitivt og større i maritime operationer end i landbaseret fredsbevaring.
As the United States steps back from international security commitments, the European Union and China are assuming greater roles, raising interest in their potential to cooperate. This thesis asks: To what extent is there room for military cooperation between the EU and China in Africa? Building on their comprehensive strategic partnership and expanding military presence on the continent, it analyzes two sites where both operate: the Gulf of Aden and Mali. The EU is engaged via CSDP missions, while China deploys either as an independent actor (in the Gulf of Aden) or within UN peacekeeping (in Mali). Using International Cooperation Theory, the study examines concrete interactions between EUNAVFOR and China’s PLA-N in counter-piracy and the more complex dynamics in Mali under MINUSMA. The findings indicate that coordinated maritime efforts in the Gulf of Aden are developing and offer greater scope for cooperation, whereas the absence of direct interaction and ambivalent relations between some EU Member States’ forces and Chinese troops in Mali significantly restrict opportunities. Overall, the potential for military cooperation is context-dependent and stronger at sea than in land-based peacekeeping.
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Keywords
Africa ; China ; EU ; Gulf of Aden ; Mali ; military cooperation
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