Sean Monaghan

Visiting Fellow, Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program CSIS

Sean Monaghan is a visiting fellow in the Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, where he focuses on NATO, European security, and defense. His career as a civil servant in the UK Ministry of Defence has focused on international defense policy, including NATO, the European Union, and the United States. In recent years, his work as a policy analyst has seen him contribute to the United Kingdom's Integrated Review and lead multinational research projects.

Authored by Sean Monaghan

Analysis / Commentary

Europe Needs More Conventional Forces, Not Its Own Nukes

By: Doreen Horschig and Sean Monaghan

Published: Jul 31, 2024

The U.S. election has renewed debate about an independent European nuclear force. Yet this distracts from the real European defense issue: a lack of conventional combat power. Europe’s main task remains the same as during the Cold War: strengthen conventional deterrence.