U.S. withdrawal Afghanistan The head of EU foreign policy stated that it will “catalyse” the EU to establish its own permanent military power, despite years of fruitless debate and opposition from member states.
After the meeting of EU defense ministers, Joseph Borel, the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs, said that the time has come to establish an active EU expeditionary force, which some senior European politicians describe as an army.
Try again and again Encouraging military cooperation Among member states, it is often attacked by critics as an example of nation-building. But Borrell said that in recent months, the EU’s “flaws” in the autonomy of the United States have been exposed.
European governments Failed to convince the U.S. Postpone the withdrawal of troops from Kabul Airport to ensure the safe evacuation of its citizens and Afghans who have worked with Western powers.
EU officials pointed out that it only needs 5,000 soldiers to protect the airport, but Europeans cannot even provide this level of contribution.
Borrell said that the EU’s incompetence during the crisis should be a “wake-up call”. His call was supported by Charles Michel, President of the European Council, and Thierry Breton, Commissioner for the European Union’s Internal Market.
“Obviously, after the events in Afghanistan, the need for more European defense has never been as obvious as it is today,” Borrell said. “Some events have catalyzed history. Sometimes what happened will promote the development of history and create breakthroughs. I think the Afghanistan event this summer is one of them.”
The lack of defense investment by EU governments and concerns about weakening NATO have been the main obstacles to the establishment of a unified European military sector.
In 2007, the European Union established two battle groups of 1,500 people, which were filled by member states in turn, but they have been under-staffed and never deployed, mainly because of funding problems.
In 2019, the general government defense expenditure of the 27 EU member states accounted for 1.2% of GDP, compared with 3.4% in the United States. Diplomatic sources said that Borel’s remarks had nothing to do with the “political reality” of EU capitals.
“We have been here before-which leader will allow their citizens to be killed in the name of the EU?” a senior EU diplomat asked. “What problem does this reaction force solve? Do [Borrell] Seriously consider the idea that the EU will be able to enter the void left by the United States? “
The lack of EU military capabilities will only be exacerbated by the loss of Britain, which was the largest defense spending country in the EU when it was a member state at the time.
Lord Frost, the Brexit negotiator, refused to talk about foreign policy cooperation during the trade agreement negotiations, although some in the cabinet were eager to renew their efforts in light of developments in Afghanistan.
EU member states have been considering the development of a strong intervention force of 5,000 people that can be trained together and have the logistics capabilities for deployment.
According to reports, Borrell wanted 50,000 people, but he denied it on Thursday, insisting that 5,000 people would be enough to make up for the impact of the United States’ “disengagement” from its role in the world.
“They need to wake up and take their responsibilities,” said Borrell in the EU capital. “This has nothing to do with NATO or the American alliance. This is a way to become stronger and face our responsibilities and mobilize our resources to meet the challenges we will have to face.”
“The EU is not a reliable substitute for NATO,” said Christian May, the head of the NATO and EU departments at the Estonian Ministry of Defense. “You will not see any interest in the European military from member states.”
