The Nexus between Internal and External Security: EU Naval Operations Under Scrutiny

The construction of EU security actorness has been accompanied by a narrative on security nexuses (internal-external, security-development, civilian-military, public-private) associated with the so-called “comprehensive approach”. The end of the Cold War enabled the explicitness of EU security actorness. The post 9/11 facilitated the reinforcement of previous trends (transnational threats, externalisation of ‘internal security’, cross pillarization) and the introduction of innovative tendencies (comprehensive approach, internalization of the Common Security and Defence Policy, interconnection of security nexuses). These trends have been intensified in recent years as demonstrated by the discourse on the “refugee crisis”, Daesh activity, foreign fighters, hybrid threats and border security This paper focuses on the internal-external security nexus declared by the EU in the post-Cold War, and reflects about the rationale and effects of the European narrative and practices on the configuration of a post-Westphalian security actor. In particular, the nexus is analysed through one of its manifestations notably the interface between CSDP and LSJ. Based on the comparative analysis of two maritime CSDP operations - European Union Naval Force Operation Atalanta (an operation dealing with piracy in the Gulf of Aden, as part of EU’s comprehensive approach to Somalia) and European Union Naval Force Operation Sophia (a recent operation dealing with complex areas of law enforcement, trafficking of human beings and migration in the neighbourhood) - it is argued that the they reflect a securitising move of the European actor explained by the convergence of opportunity (redefinition of security, prioritization of transnational threats in a globalized world), capacity (legal, organic and operational capacity in the field of security), and (ambition to have a global) presence. The holistic approach underlying the logic of the nexus is the result of a co-constitutive adequacy: “more security” - appropriation of policies and instruments of a multifunctional actor for security purposes (security of the EU and of European citizens); “more actorness” - securitization of issues in order to promote the actor and its policies. The main contribution of the paper is to think critically on why and how security narratives, military instruments and securitization dynamics serve convergent processes of gaining political and public space for legitimising policies and actions.