European force 'no threat' to NATO

Robertson: NATO remains defence cornerstone

LONDON, England -- NATO Secretary General George Robertson has moved to allay U.S. concerns that a planned European rapid reaction force could rival the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

Hitting back at British criticism -- mainly from opposition Conservatives -- of the defence plans, Robertson said there was no question that U.S.-led NATO remained Europe's primary defence and would not be undermined by a European force designed for peacekeeping or other missions NATO has decided not to take on.

"NATO remains a cornerstone of European security and our only mechanism for collective defence. The Europeans are not seeking to rival that or to duplicate that, but they are saying that the Europeans should do more in their own back yard," Robertson told BBC radio.

Defence and foreign ministers from the 15 European Union countries met in Brussels on Monday to discuss troops and equipment for a force intended to be deployed by 2003 for peacekeeping or other missions NATO chose not to undertake.

EU members are planning to pledge up to 120,000 soldiers for the new force, although initially the pool of troops will only be large enough to allow the EU to field a mission of 66,000.

While endorsing the goal of a European security and defence identity, President Clinton's administration has cautioned the EU against duplicating NATO functions, upsetting transatlantic ties or discriminating against non-EU NATO allies.

Robertson said fears the EU force would injure ties with individual NATO members or the alliance itself were unfounded.

He also said many American politicians saw the force as a way in which Europe would carry more responsibility for low-level security operations in areas of Europe where the U.S. would not want to become involved.

"There are a lot of members of the United States congress, both democrats and republicans, who welcome what the Europeans are doing...because they see that as a way in which the Europeans are going to carry more of the burden."

The rapid reaction force is meant to be fielded within 60 days and sustained on the ground for up to a year. The Europeans say they need it to act in crises where NATO as a whole -- and the United States in particular -- does not want to get involved.

The EU expects Austria to contribute 2,000 troops, Belgium 1,000, Britain 12,500, Finland 2,000, France 12,000, Germany 13,500, Greece 3,500, Ireland 1,000, Italy 6,000, Luxembourg 100, Netherlands 5,000, Portugal 1,000, Spain 6,000 and Sweden 1,500.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Europe bites bullet with defence force
November 19, 2000

European Union
NATO

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