Britain slams Germany, France for proposing EU army
UK Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson has lashed out at leaders of France and Germany for their proposal for creating a European army that could rival the NATO military alliance.
“It is an absolutely crazy idea. NATO has delivered European security for the last 70 years and we should feel very proud of it,” said Williamson on Tuesday, adding, “Should we undermine that by forming a separate military force? Absolutely not.”
The comments come weeks after French President said that the European Union needed its own army to counter threats posed by Russia, China and even the US, which leads NATO.
Macron’s idea has been supported by Germany, EU’s dominant economic power, and the two countries have repeatedly expressed concerns that a United States under the presidency of people like Donald Trump should no longer be regarded as reliable partner.
Trump reacted furiously to Macron’s proposal for creation of the EU army. The US president has even suggested in a tweet that it was the Americans that saved France during the Second World War, when the French were beginning to accept Germany’s superiority by learning their language.
However, the idea seems to have irritated Britain, a close US military ally and EU’s most powerful military force.
Williamson reiterated in his interview to the Daily Mail that Trump was right to demand countries like France and Germany to meet their obligations regarding NATO’s budget.
“Before Europe starts seriously planning its own army it should adequately fund the military that has protected its borders from aggression for 70 years,” said the defense minister, adding, “Two per cent of GDP should not be beyond the wit of those who have accumulated great wealth through the protection of NATO, primarily under the leadership of the US and UK.”
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