E.U. Moves Closer to a Joint Military Force
- 7 years ago
E.U. Moves Closer to a Joint Military Force
But with Britain having voted to leave the European Union, a process known as Brexit, the other countries in the bloc — especially France, Germany, Italy and Spain — saw the long-dormant idea of military cooperation as a way to show their citizens
that Brussels could respond to worries about security and terrorism.
European leaders have also noted President Trump’s lack of enthusiasm for NATO and other multilateral institutions, and they have apparently decided, as Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany said in May,
that "the era in which we could fully rely on others is over to some extent," and that "we Europeans truly have to take our fate into our own hands." Ms. Merkel did add, however, that European coordination should be taken in partnership with the United States and Britain.
Paris had argued for a smaller group of countries that would commit to serious spending on military equipment
and capabilities, which Europe mostly lacks outside of NATO, while Berlin argued for a bigger club.
13, 2017
BRUSSELS — The European Union took an important step on Monday toward a substantive defense capacity, as 23 of the
28 member countries signed on to a program of joint military investment in equipment, research and development.
France, which will become the most important military power in the European Union after Britain departs, wants to be
able to conduct operations in places like Mali with European allies without necessarily having to ask NATO for help.
At a signing ceremony in Brussels, the European foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, called the deal a "historic moment in European defense." Jean-Yves Le Drian, the French foreign minister and a former defense minister, said the agreement was "a commitment for countries to do better together," noting
that it "comes at a time of significant tension" in Europe stemming from a more aggressive Russia after the annexation of Crimea, and from terrorist attacks by Islamist militants.
But with Britain having voted to leave the European Union, a process known as Brexit, the other countries in the bloc — especially France, Germany, Italy and Spain — saw the long-dormant idea of military cooperation as a way to show their citizens
that Brussels could respond to worries about security and terrorism.
European leaders have also noted President Trump’s lack of enthusiasm for NATO and other multilateral institutions, and they have apparently decided, as Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany said in May,
that "the era in which we could fully rely on others is over to some extent," and that "we Europeans truly have to take our fate into our own hands." Ms. Merkel did add, however, that European coordination should be taken in partnership with the United States and Britain.
Paris had argued for a smaller group of countries that would commit to serious spending on military equipment
and capabilities, which Europe mostly lacks outside of NATO, while Berlin argued for a bigger club.
13, 2017
BRUSSELS — The European Union took an important step on Monday toward a substantive defense capacity, as 23 of the
28 member countries signed on to a program of joint military investment in equipment, research and development.
France, which will become the most important military power in the European Union after Britain departs, wants to be
able to conduct operations in places like Mali with European allies without necessarily having to ask NATO for help.
At a signing ceremony in Brussels, the European foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, called the deal a "historic moment in European defense." Jean-Yves Le Drian, the French foreign minister and a former defense minister, said the agreement was "a commitment for countries to do better together," noting
that it "comes at a time of significant tension" in Europe stemming from a more aggressive Russia after the annexation of Crimea, and from terrorist attacks by Islamist militants.