EU wants defence fund

EUROPE TO GO IT ALONE AS US NO LONGER RELIABLE Adding to chaos is more assertive Russia, series of deadly IS attacks.

The EU was to propose a new common defence fund yesterday to help Europe stand alone as a global military power – an ambition seen as more urgent due to strained ties with the US.

The proposal from the European Commission comes at the demand of EU leaders who have focused on security and defence to provide a new sense of purpose after the Brexit vote last year shook Europe.

The incentive grew stronger after the election of US President Donald Trump, who last month berated his European partners on military spending at a raucous Nato summit in Brussels.

This led German Chancellor Angela Merkel to urge Europeans “to take our destiny in our hands” and warn that the United States was no longer a reliable partner.

Adding to the sense of chaos is a more assertive Russia and a series of deadly attacks claimed by Islamic State group in France, Belgium and Britain.

The new fund was to be unveiled by EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini as part of a broader defence strategy.

“This is an exceptional moment, taboos are being broken,” a top EU diplomat told AFP on condition of anonymity.

The fund will consist of two parts. The first will help member states finance defence research into fields such as electronics, encrypted software and robotics.

The second will pool resources for hardware purchases such as tanks, helicopters and drones. – AFP