European defense coalition launched in Paris

PARIS (Reuters) – A coalition of European armed forces ready to react to crises near the continent's borders was launched Wednesday, Finland becoming the tenth country to join, following calls by French President Emmanuel Macron in favor of a "real European army".

The France-led initiative would not conflict with the US-dominated NATO alliance, which is more than seventy years old, say some supporters, but partly reflects concerns over greater isolationism of the United States under the presidency of Donald Trump.

The European intervention initiative officially took shape in Paris after months of negotiations with Germany, which France wants at the center of the force.

Macron had come up with the idea more than a year ago, but other countries in the European Union have expressed skepticism. This idea coincided with the launch by the EU of a historic defense pact designed to promote joint military investments.

Germany, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Estonia, the Netherlands, Spain and Portugal have all given the green light to the movement led by France. Members will collaborate in the planning, analysis of new military and humanitarian crises and possible military responses to these crises.

"In an environment where threats and upheavals of a geopolitical or climatic nature multiply, the initiative must send the message that Europe is ready, that Europe is capable," said one official. of the French Ministry of Defense.

The imminent departure of the EU by Britain, long opposed to EU military collaboration outside NATO, has revived discussions on defense cooperation – likewise that concern that Trump is less willing than his predecessors to defend Europe against newly asserted Russia.

The initiative "neither contradicts nor circumvents the EU's historic defense efforts, nor those of NATO," said the defense official. "On the contrary, it will only improve interoperability among the participating countries."

Macron on Tuesday called for the constitution of a "real European army" to reduce its dependence on the United States.

The President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, has long defended the idea that the EU should have more common defense capabilities, separate from NATO.

Not everyone is convinced.

"Pragmatic advances and patient construction with those who are ready for political convergence in defense are infinitely preferable to utterly illusory and even counterproductive slogans and incantations," said Arnaud Danjean, a member of the Foreign Affairs and International Trade Committee. defense of the European Parliament.