European Union Army Plan Aims to Protect Continent From Russia, ISIS
As conflicts worsen on NATO’s eastern borders, the case is being made for a pan-European army as commanders seek multinational “coalitions of force” — with or without American help.
Long-term plans for the creation of a joint European Union force have been tabled that backers say could lead to more efficient defense spending and greater military integration between the bloc’s 28 member nations.
Europe’s response to Russian aggression and ISIS terror has been shaped in part by budget cuts as governments tackle huge deficits in the wake of the 2008 credit crisis.
Analysts argue that a shift to collective defense would allow NATO states in Europe to defend members even if the United States is preoccupied with other conflicts or unwilling to act.
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