European countries to formalise EU defence force plan
Nine EU nations will formalise a plan on 25 June to create a European military intervention force, a French minister said, with Britain backing the measure as a way to maintain strong defence ties with the bloc after Brexit.
The force, known as the European Intervention Initiative and championed by French President Emmanuel Macron, is intended to be able to deploy rapidly to deal with crises.
A letter of intent is due to be signed in Luxembourg on 25 June by France, Germany, Belgium, Britain, Denmark, the Netherlands, Estonia, Spain and Portugal, French Defence Minister Florence Parly told the newspaper Le Figaro.
The initiative involves ‘joint planning work on crisis scenarios that could potentially threaten European security,’ according to a source close to the minister, including natural disasters, intervention in a crisis or evacuation of nationals.
It would be separate from other EU defence cooperation, meaning there would be no obstacle to Britain taking part after it leaves the bloc.
The French minister said: ‘This is clearly an initiative that allows the association of some non-EU states. The UK has been very keen because it wants to maintain cooperation with Europe beyond bilateral ties.’
Twenty-five EU countries signed a major defence pact in December 2017, agreeing to cooperate on various military projects, but it is not clear whether Britain would be allowed to take part in any of them after it leaves the bloc.
The EU has had four multinational military ‘battlegroups’ since 2007, but political disagreements have meant the troops have never been deployed.
Paris hopes that by focusing on a smaller group of countries, its new initiative will be able to act more decisively, freed from the burdens that sometimes hamper action by the 28-member EU and 29-member NATO. Italy had originally shown interest in the proposal.
The new government in Rome ‘is considering the possibility of joining’ but has not made a final decision, Parly said.
More from Defence Notes
-
US lawmakers warn that “more military spending is absolutely necessary” to ensure Pentagon’s readiness
The US Congress has raised concerns about how inflation rates and cuts in main acquisition programmes could affect the US military.
-
US FY2024 funding package passes as China closes military capability gap
The Pentagon has been operating under temporary funding since October 2023, which has impacted its main acquisition and development programmes, increasing the capability gap between the US and China.
-
NATO outlines future challenges as Ukrainian funding from US stalls
In 2023, defence spending increased by an unprecedented 11% across European NATO countries and Canada. Since 2014, the group has spent an additional US$600 billion on defence.
-
US Pentagon to reduce investments in main acquisition programmes over FY2025
The DoD requested nearly US$850 billion to fund operations over the next fiscal year. Despite the amount being 1% higher than the FY2024 budget request, it has not covered the 3% inflation rate, which could impact the DoD’s main programmes in the medium and long term.
-
Haiti crisis forces Caribbean militaries to prepare for intervention
As gangs gain control of Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s Caribbean neighbours have been preparing to intervene in the failed state, with the US and other partners waiting in the wings with equipment and financial support.