The European Union is in prime position when it comes to global trade. The EU is the largest economy in the world with a GDP per capita of € 25,000 for its 500 million consumers. Yet in spite of it’s enormous potential, politically and militarily the EU hasn’t been able to make a fist in foreign affairs, which has several reasons.

Europe lacks both the will and the military capability to force its will to foreign countries when that is necessary. That became painfully clear in the 90s, when Europe wasn’t able to end the atrocities committed by all parties during the civil wars on the Balkans. It was only when the United States stepped in, the Bosnian Serbs were forced to sign a peace deal in 1995 and later, in 1999, US intervention was once again needed to end Serbian aggression against the Albanian people in its (then) province of Kosovo. And more recently, EU-countries needed the call upon US military power once again during the military campaigns against Libya's Khadaffi regime (2012) and against Islamic State.

A serious gap in the EU's power projection ability is the lack of a strong naval force, spearheaded by dedicated aircraft carriers and their support vessels. At the moment, only Britain and France have dedicated aircraft carriers, while Italy and Spain both possess helicopter carriers that can launch a handful of STOVL aircraft when needed.

And although many argue that aircraft carriers become less relevant in the future, others still see an important role for these huge cities at sea. And for good reasons.

Recently, the US Navy's carrier's support of Operation Inherent Resolve (aimed at destroying Islamic State) from the Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf demonstrated the flexibility and capability of US naval forces to 'posture' as and when required. To give an example of that: just the Carrier Air Wing of the USS Dwight D Eisenhower-aircraft carrier, completed 1,685 combat sorties against Islamic State during its five months deployment in the Persian Gulf and the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. That is more than the number of sorties flown against IS by all other European nations, except for France.

So there is a good point to be made for NATO-members on mainland Europe to invest in naval aircraft carriers. And the good news is, such carriers may not be a fantasy for much longer.

While discussing France and Germany’s joint development with France of the FCAS (Future Combat Air System) sixth-generation stealth fighter in March 2019, the new head of Germany’s governing CDU party Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer raised eyebrows with her suggestion of a '"symbolic project of building an aircraft carrier to give shape to the role of the European Union as a global force for security and peace, ” which German chancellor Angela Merkel endorsed a few days later.

Though it's hard to imagine countries will ever "share" or jointly operate a ‘European’ carrier the idea of cooperating on the development and construction and then deploying them in separate navies, is more realistic. And would make sense from a military need as well. As mentioned earlier, the EU must strengthen its military capability soon, if it doesn't want to depend on the US for too long and also if it is to properly address future threats, varying from terrorist organizations such as IS, to military actions by 'unfriendly' nations along her borders, such as Russia. And with the UK leaving the EU soon and turning more towards the US and with Erdogan's Turkey, once a reliable NATO partner, shifting more towards Putin's Russia, mainland Europe may find itself in need for a more capable defense very soon.

Plus the fact that Europe must prepare for a future in which the US may no longer commit as much of its resources for Europe's defence as it has done since 1945. The latter could be a result of US discontent over the failing of many European NATO members to meet their NATO-pledge of dedicating 2% of their GDP on defence. But also because the US may be forced to shift its attention to the Far East, where China's growing military capabilities may very soon pose a serious threat to US hegemony in the region. Furthermore, China is increasing pressure on Taiwan, which it considers to be a renegade province that needs to be brought back under full Chinese Control, by force is necessary. Which could dreg the US into military action if China will indeed use force to realise that goal.

And another good argument for building up a naval EU-force spearheaded by aircraft carriers, is the potential of conflicts that could rise once the ice sheet currently covering the North Pole, will be gone (scientist predict global warming will lead to a permanent ice free zone in the Northern Arctic by 2050), which offers new sea routes as well as access to oil- and gas fields, currently not accessible.

So there are very good reasons for the EU to work on commonly Commonly developing, constructing  and deploying aircraft carriers.