A new foreign policy document from the Brussels-based European Union could reveal plans For the EU to create a massive “super army” outside the United Nations. The plan, which is scheduled to be distributed to EU leaders next week, states that the EU cannot rely on NATO for protection and must be able to “act autonomously if and when necessary.” to defend themselves and improve relations with the United States.
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European Union foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, authored the policy stating that “as Europeans we must take greater responsibility for our security.” She claims that a credible European defense is necessary to defend members of the EU and that being able to defend themselves without NATO or U.S. intervention will improve relations between the EU and the U.S. The policy reads:
“While NATO exists to defend its members — most of which are European — from external attack, Europeans must be better equipped, trained and organized to contribute decisively to such collective efforts, as well as to act autonomously if and when necessary. A more credible European defense is essential also for the sake of a healthy transatlantic partnership with the United States.”
The paper claims that NATO is the primary defense framework for most states but also urges several EU nations to “channel a sufficient level of expenditure to defense.” Many political pundits claim this is evidence that the EU is planning to create it’s own “super army” tasked with defending members of the EU from foreign and domestic terrorist threats.
Mogherini shows that the United States subsidizes the defense of European countries by outspending all other NATO members when it comes to financial support. Members of the EU claim that, if the EU was allowed to develop a strong European-continent based force it would reduce the amount of funding needed for NATO and lower the financial burden on the United States.
The document doesn’t explicitly call for the creation of a EU army but sets the stage for it’s development. Legal restrictions currently prevent the creation of an EU army. However, an army could be created, legally, with a few edits to the EU’s constitution and treaties.
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