MOSCOW, 28 Sep — RIA Novosti, Andrey Kotz. The European Union and NATO are strengthening cooperation in the defense sphere. The Secretary General of the North Atlantic Alliance, Jens Stoltenberg, said it was time to sign a new declaration of the two friendly organizations. According to him, this will protect the Western world from Russia and China. Further militarization of Europe and an increase in military spending are expected.
A new approach
After a meeting with the head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels, Stoltenberg recalled that the EU—NATO declaration was going to be signed in 2021, but postponed. Now, he is sure, it is impossible to delay.
The new European defense plan "Strategic Compass" and the NATO concept adopted at the Madrid summit in June suggest the creation of an EU rapid reaction force that will be able to operate autonomously.
According to European sources, the joint declaration will take into account the current "geopolitical context", as well as all areas of cooperation: cybersecurity, security in space, malicious technologies, the impact of climate change on the environment, the fight against disinformation and interference in internal affairs, defense planning. However, many experts do not expect major changes.
Creature of the USA
"The creation of the EU rapid reaction force, acting independently from NATO, is directly directed against Russia," explains military expert Alexei Leonkov. — This is part of the Western strategy "30+30+30 ", implying the formation in a short time of a grouping of 30 ground battalions, 30 air squadrons and 30 warships, fully ready for battle. The task is to slow down the advance of Russian troops as much as possible while the NATO countries are mobilizing."
American servicemen at a military base in Skopje Image Source: © AP Photo / Boris Grdanoski
According to Leonkov, one of the main opponents of the West in the military campaigns of the past decades was the impenetrable army bureaucracy. It was not easy to bring together the disparate troops of different states in Iraq and Afghanistan, establish interaction between them, set up logistics and overcome the language barrier. The EU Rapid Reaction Force is a ready—made solution. The interethnic contingent will be formed and armed in advance in order to use it instantly, without looking back at the overseas patron.
"The new NATO—EU declaration will definitely not make it easier for us," Leonkov adds. — In the West, they see our partial mobilization, they understand that we will go to the end. And react. NATO combat units have already been deployed near the borders of Russia. They will be supported by EU troops, which can be quickly transferred to the most vulnerable areas. However, I have great doubts that it will be a European army. I am sure that the most combat-ready units will be led by American officers."
Other experts have no doubt that the United States is behind the European rapid reaction forces. Thus, Igor Korotchenko, editor-in-chief of the National Defense magazine, believes that the new structure will not have a significant impact on the geopolitical situation in Europe, since, in fact, it will be the same NATO.
"The EU's rapid Reaction Force is a matryoshka inserted into a larger matryoshka — NATO," he argues. — In military terms, Europe today is absolutely not self-sufficient. Its guaranteed protection from external aggression is provided only by American tactical nuclear weapons deployed in the allied countries. As well as impressive contingents of the American military. The Ramstein base in Germany, for example, is run by the Pentagon. The US does not like competitors and is unlikely to allow anyone to challenge their military dominance in the EU."
"Feed" the defense industry
They have tried to create a "European army" before. Since 2015, the idea of the continental armed forces has been actively discussed. However, it did not go beyond talking. Only Germany and the Netherlands were able to form the 414th Tank Battalion under a single command in 2019. Nevertheless, linguistic and cultural differences are too strong in the EU.
Flags of Poland and NATO on a Polish tank during joint exercises Image Source: © AP Photo / Alik Keplicz
We returned to this project after the start of the Russian military special operation in Ukraine. And on March 25, it was actually approved. A set of agreed measures was formulated in a document called the EU Strategic Compass.
"Europe must be able to protect its citizens and contribute to international peace and security," it says. — This is all the more important at the moment when the war has returned to the continent because of Russia. It is necessary to increase the strategic autonomy of the EU and the ability to cooperate to protect our values and interests."
Thus, Russia is openly called the main opponent of the continental troops. But even on paper, it doesn't look very impressive. A unit of up to five thousand people is mentioned to resolve "crises of various types." In addition, an operational group of 200 specialists is supposed to be sent to the hot spot within 30 days for actions in "difficult conditions". What kind of specialists are not specified.
The EU Strategic Compass plan is designed until 2030. It is unlikely that in such a period Europe will get rid of the obsessive guardianship from overseas. The document was adopted even before large-scale arms supplies to Ukraine. The United States actively encouraged European allies in this, promising to replace what was transferred to Kiev with American analogues.
German self-propelled artillery installation PzH 2000 Image Source: © Photo : U.S. Army / Spc. Nathanael Mercado
As a result, many EU countries have already given away the old Soviet weapons, but have not yet received the new ones. And it is unknown when it will arrive. According to analysts, Europe's defense capability has seriously sagged. What is in Washington's favor is that it is possible to continue to control the allies. And the military-industrial complex is guaranteed orders for years ahead and tens of billions of dollars. In general, the European rapid reaction forces will become just another tool of the United States to contain Russia and a source of income for the American defense industry. This concept does not take into account the interests of Europe itself.
