1、Key Issues Provoked by President Donald Trumps erratic and divisive stance on NATO,some in Europe called for an EU that was not dependent on the United States for the defence of Europe against the full range of possible threats.Others viewed such a level of ambition as illusionary.Putins launch of a
2、 war against Ukraine has dramatically unified and reinvigorated NATO under its U.S.leadership and re-emphasized the pre-eminence of its core task of collective defence.The EUs new Strategic Compass,quickly edited in its final drafting phase to take account of the war in Ukraine,recognizes the primac
3、y of NATOs responsibilities in this regard and provides guidelines for EU defence enhancements in its own important defence and security programme that are in most respects complementary to NATOs efforts and activities.Introduction An African-American proverb warns that;“if you dont know where you w
4、ant to go,any road will take you there.”The new EU Strategic Compass for Security and Defence,endorsed by the European Council on 25 March,is intended to avoid such ambivalence.As stated by the EUs High Representative/Vice President(HR/VP)Josep Borrell in his foreword to this document,“the purpose o
