Nato urged to challenge European defence plan

[ze_dscherman]

The US has called an emergency Nato meeting to challenge the creation of a stronger security and defence policy for the European Union.


The call by Nicholas Burns, US ambassador to Nato, reflects growing unease among Pentagon officials over the way Britain wants to work more closely with its EU allies in building credible defence structures and better military capabilities. But it also highlights tensions in the transatlantic alliance, with the US seeing any future EU defence policy as a potential competitor to Nato.

The US move came as EU leaders met last night to discuss how to make European defence more effective in any new constitutional treaty. The draft treaty is being negotiated in the intergovernment conference that includes the 15 current member and 10 candidate states that join next year.

SNIP

An EU diplomat said the US believed France was setting a hidden agenda. "It believes Paris will use the trio to gradually strengthen the EU's military capabilities and eventually move away from Nato."

SNIP

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[AP]

1. Wait, I thought Blair was a poodle?

By the way, America is totally schizophrenic when it comes to European defense. We say we're not going to interven in the next crisis at Europe's doorstep. So, when Europe starts taking steps towards being responsible for themsleves, we complain.

The competing interests in the US are: (1) we don't want to pay for defending Europe becuase they're rich enough to take care of it themselves, and most of the financial benefits flow to Europe anyway. However, (2) if Europe has an autonomous defense policy they could start weilding their power in the world in a way that interferes with the US's desire for profitable chaos. What if Europe had taken out SH and OBL before the US had the chance to turn them into profit-makers for Bechtel and Haliburton?

[Hieronymus]

2. Schizophrenic is right.....

and you stated it very well.
The truth is, the EU will be a force to be dealt with. Russia has announced they will deal in euros in oil.:shrug:

[cprise]

4. He wants an EU that looks and acts like the US

..and until that happens he will follow American examples of domestic and foreign policy.

[Paschall]

3. Former French Prime Minister...

...Laurent Fabius called this week for a complete "fusion" of French and German armed forces and said he hoped Britain would join this multinational force. Fabius, a Socialist who served as PM under President François Mitterand, said he hoped the combined force would first replace all French and German national troops now serving in UN-mandated humanitarian aide and peacekeeping missions.

Fabius's opinion means little at this point since the Socialists are currently in the opposition, but it indicates where the Left in France and Germany might take this issue in the (hopefully near) future.