NATO Chief Jens Stoltenberg Warns EU Over Defence Pact
Fahad Shabbir (@FahadShabbir) Published February 13, 2018 | 07:12 PM
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg on Tuesday warned the EU its new defence cooperation pact must not undermine the alliance, as US officials voiced fresh concerns about the flagship initiative
Brussels, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Feb, 2018 ) :NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg on Tuesday warned the EU its new defence cooperation pact must not undermine the alliance, as US officials voiced fresh concerns about the flagship initiative.
The European Union launched the scheme with great fanfare in December, touting it as a way to get member states to work more closely post-Brexit and spend more effectively on defence projects. But the plan has come under fire in recent days from US officials who fear it could draw resources away from NATO and even become a "protectionist" umbrella for European defence manufacturers.
Stoltenberg, speaking on the eve of a meeting of NATO defence ministers in Brussels, said there was "no way" the EU could replace the transatlantic alliance in guaranteeing European security. Efforts to boost European defence spending were welcome, he said, but only if they were coordinated with NATO plans.
"It will be absolutely without any meaning if NATO and the EU start to compete," the former Norwegian premier told reporters. "European allies are absolutely aware that the defence, the protection of Europe is dependent on NATO." The EU's so-called permanent structured cooperation on defence agreement, known as PESCO, has projects in view already to develop new military equipment and improve cooperation and decision-making.
But on Sunday Katie Wheelbarger, a senior official at the US Department of Defense, said Washington regarded some of the proposed initiatives as "pulling resources or capabilities away from NATO".
And the US stepped up its criticism on Monday, with Ambassador to NATO Kay Baliey Hutchison warning the EU there could be serious consequences if it shut US defence companies out of cooperation projects.
"Certainly we do not want this to be a protectionist vehicle for the EU and we're going to watch carefully because if that becomes the case then it could splinter the strong security alliance that we have," she told reporters.
"We want the Europeans to have capabilities and strength but not to fence off American products or Norwegian products or potentially UK products." Britain, which is leaving the EU, is one of only three member states along with Denmark and Malta not to sign up to the pact.
Under the rules of the cooperation agreement, as a non-EU state Britain will be able to take part in specific missions but will have no decision-making role.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
2nd symposium on Battery Electric Vehicles held
European stocks rise but Wall Street slips
Pakistan Jr. Tennis team for South Asian Tennis Championship announced
KP Government establishes wheat procurement center at Havelian
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif takes note of schoolteacher torture
Art exhibition showcases abstract expressionist paintings by Sherzada Khalid Iqb ..
Police recovers body of youngster, netted killer
UK House of Lords' member Sayeeda Warsi calls on Deputy PM Dar
World Thalassaemia Day: Blood donation camp arranged
Jam Kamal urges Pakistan-Belarus trade boost: Potential yet to be fully exploite ..
Seminar on role of youth in building lasting peace, promoting tolerance held
Google provides up to 45,000 scholarships
More Stories From World
-
Flood-hit Kenya reports dozens of cholera cases
1 hour ago -
China's Xi welcomed with 'respect and love' in Serbia
56 minutes ago -
UK says to expel Russian defence attache as 'undeclared military intelligence officer'
2 hours ago -
N. Macedonia polls set to upend ties with EU neighbours
2 hours ago -
Israel pounds Gaza as truce talks resume
2 hours ago -
Russia says it captured two more villages in Ukraine
3 hours ago
-
Russia 'cannot' investigate AFP journalist's 2023 killing in Ukraine: Kremlin
3 hours ago -
Indonesia April temperatures hottest in four decades: weather agency
3 hours ago -
Bangladesh recall Shakib for last two Zimbabwe T20s
3 hours ago -
11 Hajj flights carrying 2,160 Pakistani pilgrims to land in Madinah on Thursday
4 hours ago -
Leading Pakistani media group publishes 60th episode of BRI column
4 hours ago -
Malta ex-PM, top officials charged in sweeping corruption probe
55 minutes ago