The study examines diverging preferences of Eastern European EU member states towards a more closely integrated CFSP/CSDP despite similar threats from Russia and declining trust in the U.S. within NATO. The author demonstrates that party-political competition over societal value conflicts (GAL/TAN) are decisive in explaining foreign policy preferences. Through a comparative analysis, the study explains how the consequences of globalisation and Europeanisation have led to the formation of specific representation mechanisms that continue to shape the states' integration preferences to this day.