suggested citation: D. Irrera, K. Veljanovska Blazhevska, The impact of the war in Ukraine on the future of EU-NATO cooperation, lceonline (www.lceonline.eu), 1/2026, I/Saggi e contributi, p. 27 ss.
key words: EU, NATO, security, cooperation, Ukraine, war, violence
abstract: The article examines how Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has transformed cooperation between the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Moving beyond descriptive accounts, it develops a theoretically grounded explanation based on role theory and securitisation. It argues that the war has triggered a process of role reconfiguration driven by intensified threat perceptions and shifting mutual expectations. Using qualitative process-tracing based on document analysis and elite interviews, the article shows that while cooperation has deepened significantly, tensions persist due to intra-role conflicts and asymmetries in capabilities. The findings contribute to the literature by demonstrating how crises reshape inter-organisational relations and by refining the application of role theory to security governance. The article concludes with policy implications for strengthening EU–NATO coordination in an evolving European security architecture.
