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European Union members sign 'historic' defence pact to create a 23-nation army

Amid the deepest splits between Europe and the U.S. since the Second World War, many Europeans say they cannot rely on Trump for help

BRUSSELS — European Union countries on Monday officially launched a new era in defence co-operation with a program of joint military investment and project development aimed at helping the EU confront its security challenges.

Twenty-three of the EU’s 28 member nations signed up to the process, known as permanent structured co-operation, or PESCO. Britain, which is leaving the EU in 2019, and Denmark with a defence opt-out were among those not taking part.

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EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini described it as a “historic moment in European defence,” and added that “23 member states engaging both on capabilities and on operational steps is something big.” Those who didn’t sign up can join later.

Mogherini said countries have already submitted more than 50 joint projects in the fields of defence capabilities and military operations. Britain can take part in some if they are of benefit to the entire EU.

She said PESCO, backed by the EU defence fund, “will enable member states to use the economy of scale of Europe and in this manner to fulfil the gap of output that we have.”

Their signatures are a sign of political will but the program will only enter force once it’s been legally endorsed, probably in December.

Europeans have been criticized by U.S. and NATO leaders for taking a parochial approach to defense issues, favoring domestic manufacturers and allocating resources to deliver political dividends rather than concrete security benefits.

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But in the Trump era, amid the deepest splits between Europe and the United States since the Second World War, many Europeans say they cannot rely on Washington for help.

“It was important for us that we Europeans stand up independently, especially after the election of the U.S. president,” German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen said. “Nobody will solve our security problems for us. We have to do it ourselves.”

Under the co-operation, member countries will submit an action plan outlining their defence aims. Mogherini, EU military chiefs and the European Defence Agency will then evaluate whether the plans are being respected.

Those not living up to their commitments could be kicked out of the group.

EU officials insist this is not just bureaucratic co-operation, but real investment that will help develop Europe’s defence industry and spur research and development in military capabilities that the bloc needs most.

European Union foreign ministers meet after signing the PESCO defense pact in Brussels on Nov. 13, 2017.Photo by Emmanuel Dunand, Pool via AP

Mogherini said the move would complement NATO’s security aims. The EU, she said, has tools to fight hybrid warfare — the use of conventional weapons mixed with things like propaganda and cyber-attacks — that the military alliance does not have at its disposal.

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The EU can also bring its political and financial weight to bear on security challenges, such as the use of development aid in Africa, where NATO has no real foothold.

Under PESCO, EU countries will commit to increase military spending, but not to specifically adhere to NATO’s bottom line of moving towards 2 per cent of gross domestic product for defence budgets by 2020. By working together on joint projects, nations will be able to use their combined spending weight to purchase much needed capabilities like air transport or drones.

“The real problem is not how much we spend, it is the fact that we spend in a fragmented manner,” Mogherini said.

Gabriel said working together is “more economical than if everyone does the same. I think that European co-operation on defence questions will rather contribute to saving money — we have about 50 per cent of the United States’ defence spending in Europe, but only 15 per cent of the efficiency.”

— with a file from The Washington Post

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