Last week, a group of security experts from the Visegrad countries working in the framework of the Slovak Atlantic Commission’s DAV4 (Defence Austerity: A New Paradigm for Defence and Security Cooperation in the Visegrad Region) project visited Norway and Sweden in order to get inspired by Nordic defence cooperation and discuss with representatives of ministries of foreign affairs and defence the advantages and disadvantages of joint cooperation.
In times of fiscal austerity implying major cuts in defence budgets countries need to find smart solutions on how to spend less money more effectively and efficiently. While the European countries keeps implying budget cuts in defence and the United States recently announced to decrease its military presence in Europe, even the small states can build up modern defence capabilities and thus become relevant international actor.
Europe can no longer be a free rider in the transatlantic security system. In the present time of an on-going US period of strategic redefinition and inevitable declining presence of the United States in Europe, the smart regional defence cooperation is a mean of greater efficiency that both NATO and European Union could benefit.
Smart regional defence cooperation, perceiving own security in wider regional scope, will enable states to acquire modern technologies and imply security measures they would not be able to afford and provide on their own. Central European collaboration could offer better defence of Visegrad countries for less money. Therefore, searching for ways how to better manage available resources, experts from the Central European countries seek to apply measures of smart defence and principles of pooling and sharing of resources.
Nordic pragmatism
Nordic security and defence cooperation could serve as an inspiration for the Central European regional cooperation. Getting first hand experience, insight and knowledge of how the Nordic defence cooperation is conducted; all its depths, positives as well as scrutinises were discussed during the Nordic trip of DAV4 expert group.
The expert group found out that the Nordic security and defence cooperation is more complex then it seems. “No illusions can be made about Nordic cooperation, it is not very deep, but it is very pragmatic and practical cooperation,” proclaimed Jozef Bátora, member of the group and director of the Institute of International Relations and European Studies at the Comenius University in Bratislava.
While one of the main tasks of the Visegrad states is the definition the obstacles and the range of issues in which regional cooperation could be possible, the differences in interests within the V4 group will still exist. Tomáš Valášek, director of foreign policy and defence at the Centre for European Reform, explained that as in Nordic cooperation “it is important the mechanism and conditions for mutual cooperation (in Central Europe) are created, the doors (enabling states to join cooperation later on) are left open, as it is possible to observe in case of Nordic group and Denmark.”
Jan Jireš, director of the Centre of Transatlantic Relations at the CEVRO Institute in Prague, pointed out that the Visegrad security cooperation should be flexible and multi-speed. According to him, Central European regional defence cooperation should not be strictly limited just to the Visegrad countries. Further collaboration within wider Eastern European and Western Balkan should not be obstructed. V4 group must strive for deeper cooperation with its “natural partners” in the region and further abroad.
Nordic “tricks” can be used within the V4
According to Tomáš Valášek, security and defence cooperation of Nordic countries is applicable to the Central European countries. “Nordic countries have learn common tricks of saving millions of Euros by purchasing for example artillery together. Furthermore, the joint training of aircraft enabling exercise with different fighters and large-scale simulations of combat situation, while fighters depart from and land at their home bases can be conducted without increase in expenses.”
In addition, “the virtual secretariat (of Nordic Defence Cooperation) creates the bureaucratic integration between the Nordic ministries of defence establishing a crucial shared scientific base and brainpower for joint defence planning,” pointed out Jozef Bátora.
While Tomáš Valášek assumes that the mutual cooperation between Czech Republic and Slovakia is going to become the core of the security and defence cooperation in the Central European region, the joint Visegrad security and defence cooperation is going to take years to establish. The approach to regional collaboration must be long-term and a strong political will is crucial to the project.
Consultations with Nordic experts show that security and defence cooperation should begin with simple, flexible, small and practical decisions and projects that would not be politically controversial since joint projects in security and defence mean less sovereignty in the area that the national states would like to give up the last. Gradual building of political trust through successful small joint projects could lead to the final stage of mutual cooperation, to the pooling and sharing of defence resources in the region.
Another acknowledgement from the Nordic cooperation is understanding that the successful security and defence V4 project can not neglect the importance of generating support within the military, relevant civic and political actors and stakeholders as well as general public.
The expert group mission was supported by Slovak Ambassador to Stockholm Peter Kmec who hosted series of meetings with the Swedish defence experts and together with the Czech Embassy secured a coordination session with the ambassadors and military attachés of the Visegrad countries to Sweden.
According to Ambassador Kmec, the security and defence cooperation and exchange of experience are among the top agendas of Slovak diplomatic mission to Sweden. He went on and declared his support to the DAV4 project by committing to monitor security and defence cooperation of Nordic countries in cooperation with his V4 counterparts.
