Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson brands EU army plan ‘crazy and dangerous’
2 min read
Plans to create a European army to rival Nato are “crazy and dangerous” and would undermine international security, Gavin Williamson has said.
The Defence Secretary made the comments after French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel both expressed their hopes of creating a new EU military force.
Mr Williamson told the Daily Mail: “You can absolutely rest assured that Britain will never become part of a European army on my watch.
“It is an absolutely crazy idea. Nato has delivered European security for the last 70 years and we should feel very proud of it.
“Should we undermine that by forming a separate military force? Absolutely not.
“To begin discussing a new EU army is dangerous and undermines the security that Nato underwrites.”
Speaking at the European Parliament in Strasbourg last week. Ms Merkel said: “Europeans now have to really take our fate fully into our own hands if we want to defend our community…
“We have to work on a vision of one day creating a real, true European army.”
This follows similar remarks from Mr Macron earlier this month, when she said during Armistice centenary commemorations in Verdun: “We won’t protect Europe if we don’t decide to have a true European army.
“We have to have a Europe that can defend itself alone and without only relying on the US.
“We should protect ourselves when it comes to China, Russia and even the US.”
Meanwhile, Brussels has announced plans for a new initiative to train the next generation of EU secret agents, which won’t include Britain.
The Joint EU Intelligence Academy will be led by Greece and Cyprus, include 25 EU member states and work closely with Nato.
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