Exploring the geopolitical role of the European Union: a reading from Saul Cohen

a central element in reflecting on the epistemological characterization of geopolitics, revolves around the role of geography in defining the spatial elements upon which the political dynamics hinge. In this framework, a significant contribution to the debate can be attributed to the studies of Saul Bernard Cohen, an American scholar who aimed to center his investigative method on the recovery of geographic sense as a basis for evaluating and interpreting global dynamics. The contribution aims to offer points for reflection regarding the geopolitical understanding of the European Union's role, starting from Cohen's research, contextualizing its insights within the framework of the 2022 Versailles Declaration and the discussion on Strategic Autonomy and the structural vulnerabilities that hinder its realization, with a particular attention to the reading of CEE Countries role in his analysis of EU exercise of the power