euro|topics - A new defence policy for Europe?

05/07/2009

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Main focus of Friday, March 28, 2008

A new defence policy for Europe?

During their meeting in London on March 27th, the French president Nicolas Sarkozy and Prime Minister Gordon Brown advocated a rapprochement of the two countries. The European press wonders if a stronger Franco-British relation can help Europe advance in various sectors, notably the military domain.

Berliner Zeitung - Germany

Barbara Klimke analyses the reasons for Nicolas Sarkozy's "charm offensive" in the UK. "France depends on the alliance with the United Kingdom for the implementation of its strategic military plans. The old, tried and tested, highly institutionalised axis with Germany is indeed no longer sufficient, particularly since, following the Mediterranean Union dispute, relations with Germany are not at their best. Cooperation between two states may still be in keeping with the times when it comes to the construction of nuclear power stations, but global problems like climate change or terrorism can be solved neither at a national level nor bilaterally. Sarkozy ... therefore wants to break with a national taboo and strengthen his country's ties with NATO - a move which has been unthinkable since de Gaulle's times and which is highly controversial in France. In return for this Sarkozy will have to insist that the EU assumes a stronger role regarding future defence operations. This will no doubt require the use of stronger persuasion with the more eurosceptic Brit Gordon Brown than with German Chancellor Angela Merkel." (28/03/2008)

ABC - Spain

The daily points out that, in the past, Franco-British entente "has always worked well when practised full-heartedly. ... The rapprochement observed over the past few days ... is thus good news. Especially if it allows a more balanced and multilateral picture for transatlantic relations after the election of the North American president in November. It can also provide greater stability for the internal functioning of the EU that is endlessly showing its weaknesses and cannot hide its need of a pragmatic thrust to help it out of its current state of institutional paralysis. ... In this respect, the proposal to bring France back into NATO's military structure and the offer to send an elite contingent to Afghanistan are important factors to be taken into account if the two countries want to efficiently face up to the numerous cracks that have been opened in the West's security since September 11th." (28/03/2008)

The Daily Telegraph - United Kingdom

Journalist Con Coughlin takes a sceptical view of Sarkozy's promise to provide the extra 1,000 troops that are desperately needed by Nato in Afghanistan. "Ever since Charles de Gaulle withdrew French forces from Nato command in 1966, the French position has been that any military deployment that France undertakes abroad must be conducted under French command. ... If Mr Sarkozy really is serious about bolstering France's military commitment to Afghanistan, he will do so only on France's terms. ... Suddenly, Mr Sarkozy's grand gesture does not look quite so grand after all. Nato might be desperate for more combat troops, but not at any price. Nor is there any suggestion that French troops will actually be involved in combat operations, even if the deployment goes ahead. At present, the 1,500 French troops in Afghanistan are nowhere near the main area of action, where the thankless task of trying to subjugate the Taliban has been left to the British, American, Canadian, Dutch and Danish troops... ." (28/03/2008)

» To the complete press review of Friday, March 28, 2008

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