[A-List] Britain, France To Form NATO-Friendly Joint Strike Force

[Rick Rozoff <r_rozoff@xxxxxxxxx>]

http://news.ft.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=FT.com/StoryFT/FullStory&c=StoryFT&cid=1075982401236&p=1012571727166

Financial Times
February 9, 2004

UK and France join forces on combat units
By Judy Dempsey in Brussels and James Blitz in London


-London and Paris want the units to work closely - but
not exclusively - with the United Nations. Depending
on the mission, they may have access to Nato
resources.
Diplomats on Monday insisted the Anglo-French plan
would not compete with Nato, but could contribute to
the alliance's Response Force.


Britain and France are to take a bold step towards
closer defence co-operation, joining forces to create
a string of highly trained, rapid-deployment units for
combat in jungle, desert and mountain operations.


As the leaders of France, Germany and Britain prepare
to meet next week in a three-way summit that could
deepen their mutual co-operation, London and Paris
have drawn up detailed plans covering the deployment
of Anglo-French battlegroups.

The ambitious plan, to be unveiled this week, is part
of a strategy by France and Britain to beef up
Europe's defence and for the European Union to take on
more responsibility in promoting world stability by
preventing atrocities and separating warring parties.

At next week's trilateral summit in Berlin, Jacques
Chirac, French president, Gerhard Schröder, German
chancellor, and Tony Blair, UK prime minister, also
want to explore ways of boosting co-operation on
economic reform and asylum and immigration policy.

The EU originally wanted to create a rapid-reaction
force of 60,000, but this has been scaled back because
military capabilities would not stretch to the
soldiers and equipment needed. Nato is also
re-assessing the make-up of its 21,000-strong Nato
Response Force.

The latest Anglo-French initiative, which will be
presented this week to the European Union's political
and security ambassadors, sets out a detailed agenda
and timetable describing how and where the new units
will conduct missions, and at what level they will be
trained. London and Paris want the units to work
closely - but not exclusively - with the United
Nations. Depending on the mission, they may have
access to Nato resources.

Diplomats on Monday insisted the Anglo-French plan
would not compete with Nato, but could contribute to
the alliance's Response Force. The battlegroups will
consist of 1,500 troops, be capable of being deployed
within 15 days and operate under a UN mandate. The
missions will last up to 30 days and will be
"appropriate for, but not limited to, use in failed or
failing states, (of which most are in Africa)".

The initiative is open to other EU states. But
countries wishing to join "must show a high degree of
interoperability" which means training and ope rating
together.

London and Paris also insist the "overriding"
criterion for joining "is ultimately military
effectiveness". The UK and France want the plan
accepted by all member states by June 30 and troops
available by 2007.



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