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Europe à la carte Europe à la carte
(9 months later)
The British army is facing a huge upheaval, with historic battalions, including those who fought in the Battle of Waterloo, disbanded as the number of soldiers falling to the lowest level for more than a hundred years.The British army is facing a huge upheaval, with historic battalions, including those who fought in the Battle of Waterloo, disbanded as the number of soldiers falling to the lowest level for more than a hundred years.
Tomorrow (Thursday), British defence secretary Philip Hammond will officially announce the well-trailed decision to cut the army from 102,000 to, 82,000, part of a package which includes bringing home 20,000 troops from Germany.Tomorrow (Thursday), British defence secretary Philip Hammond will officially announce the well-trailed decision to cut the army from 102,000 to, 82,000, part of a package which includes bringing home 20,000 troops from Germany.
The cuts come at a time of growing scepticism, if not outright hostility, in the UK towards the European Union. Do they signal a retreat of Britain's armed forces to their home base, reflecting this "anti-European" mood ? Far from it, judging from statements from ministers.The cuts come at a time of growing scepticism, if not outright hostility, in the UK towards the European Union. Do they signal a retreat of Britain's armed forces to their home base, reflecting this "anti-European" mood ? Far from it, judging from statements from ministers.
The government has no intention of battening down the hatches, relegating its forces to domestic duties, defending the homeland.The government has no intention of battening down the hatches, relegating its forces to domestic duties, defending the homeland.
Just last month in a keynote speech, Hammond spoke of the need for Britain to to working "closely with partners to operate logistics more rationally...Looking to others to provide the tail, where Britain is concentrating on providing the teeth."Just last month in a keynote speech, Hammond spoke of the need for Britain to to working "closely with partners to operate logistics more rationally...Looking to others to provide the tail, where Britain is concentrating on providing the teeth."
The message seems clear: Britain will continue to play a major role in response to armed conflict, looking to its Europeans partners to provide back-up. British ministers are well aware that the US is shifting its interest away from Europe to the Pacific, and to China in particular. Closer European military cooperation seems to be vital at a time most European governments are slashing their defence budgets.The message seems clear: Britain will continue to play a major role in response to armed conflict, looking to its Europeans partners to provide back-up. British ministers are well aware that the US is shifting its interest away from Europe to the Pacific, and to China in particular. Closer European military cooperation seems to be vital at a time most European governments are slashing their defence budgets.
Margaret Thatcher, in her 1988 speech to the College of Europe, widely seen as a a kind of Eurosceptic manifesto, said: "I want to see us work more closely on the things we can do better together than alone. Europe is stronger when we do so, whether it be trade, in defence, or in our relations with the rest of the world".Margaret Thatcher, in her 1988 speech to the College of Europe, widely seen as a a kind of Eurosceptic manifesto, said: "I want to see us work more closely on the things we can do better together than alone. Europe is stronger when we do so, whether it be trade, in defence, or in our relations with the rest of the world".
David Rennie, political editor of The Economist, puts it this way in an excellent pamphlet, The Continent or the Open Sea: Does Britain have a European future?, published by the Centre for European Reform. "The favoured strategy at the heart of current British diplomacy revolves around securing close bilateral relationships, which can enable the creation of coalitions of the willing when needed".David Rennie, political editor of The Economist, puts it this way in an excellent pamphlet, The Continent or the Open Sea: Does Britain have a European future?, published by the Centre for European Reform. "The favoured strategy at the heart of current British diplomacy revolves around securing close bilateral relationships, which can enable the creation of coalitions of the willing when needed".
Libya last year was a classic example with both Nato and EU nations divided over how to respond. The UK and France (two countries which signed a defence cooperation treaty in 2010) in the forefront, Germany and Poland not committing any warplanes but Norway (a member of Nato but not of the EU) and Denmark (traditionally a deeply sceptical member of the EU) playing a big role.Libya last year was a classic example with both Nato and EU nations divided over how to respond. The UK and France (two countries which signed a defence cooperation treaty in 2010) in the forefront, Germany and Poland not committing any warplanes but Norway (a member of Nato but not of the EU) and Denmark (traditionally a deeply sceptical member of the EU) playing a big role.
This can be called Europe à la carte. That is to say, members of the EU (and Nato) pick and chose what they want from the menu.This can be called Europe à la carte. That is to say, members of the EU (and Nato) pick and chose what they want from the menu.
On its past record, Britain will always choose the military dish. Tomorrow's army cuts could make this more, not less, likely.On its past record, Britain will always choose the military dish. Tomorrow's army cuts could make this more, not less, likely.
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