Europe's Forgotten Hard Power: The Interdependence of Defense, Diplomacy, and Development
Baroness Catherine Ashton argues that Western governments are mistakenly treating defense, diplomacy, and development as interchangeable, slashing aid budgets in favor of military spending. She contends this makes nations less secure, using the EU's anti-piracy mission off Somalia as an example: military success at sea was undermined by a lack of development and diplomatic efforts on land, where poverty and civil war fueled a steady supply of pirates. She also cites the Haiti earthquake response and the Sudan refugee crisis in Chad to illustrate that integrated responses—combining military, development, and diplomatic tools—are essential for long-term security. Ashton calls for Europe to urgently revive its 'forgotten hard power' by collaborating with partners on long-term, holistic solutions to crises.
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