Brexit – Security and Defense Policy Aspects

Abstract

Following upon the results of the June 23 popular referendum in Great Britain, the British government has an authorization to negotiate the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union upon Article 50 of the Treaty on the European Union (Brexit). The UK is the fifth most powerful economy in the world, the third most populous member state of the European Union, a net contributor to EU budgets, and spends more on defense than any other member state. The author offers and analysis of the foreseeable effects of Brexit in the field of security and defense policy on Europe – both regarding the EU common security and defense policy and NATO’s defense policy – and on the United Kingdom.