Trump forcing Europe to deepen defence integration
Uncertainty over US President Donald Trump's commitment to the NATO alliance requires European nations to bolster efforts to forge a common defence policy, France's Defence Minister Florence Parly said on 21 June.
Parly said on France 2 television: ‘At the NATO summit a year ago, he did not explicitly support the idea in place since the North Atlantic Treaty that when one country of the alliance is attacked, the others will come to their aid.’
She said ‘that casts a certain doubt’ over the alliance formed by the treaty in 1949.
Trump, who once derided the alliance as ‘obsolete’, says the US shoulders too much of NATO's costs and has insisted that European members must increase their spending.
At the coming NATO summit in Brussels on 11 and 12 July, ‘I think the US president will insist very strongly that its allies, in particular in Europe, pay the burden which the US says it is bearing,’ Parly said.
She said: ‘That's why building a common European defence is necessary, in this situation where we don't really know if the assumptions we've lived with for the past 70 years are still valid.’
France and Germany have already taken a ‘historic’ step by agreeing to jointly build the next generation of fighter jet and tank for their forces, and to form an integrated rapid response force, she said.
Parly added: ‘Many European countries still buy their military equipment mainly from non-European countries – I don't need to cite the United States – and that is also something we need to change.’
More from Defence Notes
-
RUSI deputy: UK needs longer procurement plans and improved awareness of US sift to Indo-Pacific
The UK budget announced in Parliament on 30 October was the first by a Labour government in 14 years which has also launched a review into defence procurement programmes.
-
Australia outlines longer punch and brings local industry onboard
The Australian government has placed a focus on Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) which has included the purchase of additional long-range rocket systems and investments in local production of missiles.
-
UK boosts defence budget by 5.3%, but is this enough?
The UK budget announced in Parliament on 30 October is the first by a Labour government in 14 years. While it sees a boost in defence spending, this comes in the face of fiscal challenges and the effects of inflation.
-
UK makes big moves to fix “broken” defence procurement system ahead of major review
The changes are intended to meet greater need and deliver more value for money.
-
US companies invest in production capabilities to satisfy DoD’s hunger for cutting-edge capabilities
BAE Systems, Booz Allen Hamilton and Lockheed Martin have been betting on new facilities and innovative manufacturing technologies to speed up the development of new solutions.