"Is a European army really so barmy?" Topic

"Farage has slammed the new European Commission president for her ‘fanatic' support for a European army. But is the idea really so bad, if, as Farage fears, it supplants NATO, whose interventions have been so destabilizing?

Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage was, to his credit, very critical of the NATO-led assault on Libya in 2011, which destroyed a prosperous country and created a refugee crisis of epic proportions, as well as greatly increasing the terrorism threat to European citizens.

Yet now the same politician seems very worried that NATO could be made redundant…"
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RT is paid for by the Russian Government so not to be trusted one iota.

Is European army bad?

The main problems as I see them are:

Is the wish to replace NATO, or at least fudge the spending requirements placed on NATO members. Does anyone seriously believe that a European army without US support could stop Russia?

A second issue is that richer countries young people less inclined to join, leaving an the poorer Eastern countries youth bearing the brunt of service.

As for equipment well Germany would want every one using German ,while the French would expect their to be chosen. Maybe a multinational tank, or AFV,and those projects seen to work so well.

Last point, take the example the European Border force. All natios signed up for it. Agreed to spend money on it and supply man power. Big announcements were made. To this day no country has given the money or manpower agreed upon.

Before people start calling me a little Englander, I have lived in Europe more than lived in UK, and believe in EU, just not blind to some issues

The first problems I see are C&C related. Who has overall command – resolving that alone will cause all sorts of debates that might rumble on for years. Then on a purely practical level which language will they use, English – the EU probably wouldn't like that at all.

RT is paid for by the Russian Government so not to be trusted one iota.

As opposed to all the other highly biased news channels run by corporations owned by a few billionaires? Yea right.

I was comparing it to the BBC, which though not perfect, is not owned by a billionaire.

If formed, it wouldn't be long before it is converted into an internal security force. Managed by a centralized government. That is paranoid about staying in power and enjoys micro-managing. Based on the record of Europe's past history, probably not a good idea…

Just MY take…but as Zephyr1 says…and a 'Security Force' is a cheaper option! At some time, it will be used to control future generations who are 'unhappy' within an EU State. Hence Brexit. Maybe the 'remainers' in the UK should THINK about the future rather than obsessing on temporary economic factors.
As for a EU armed forces, didn't Blair do well when trying to drum up EU action against Serbia, (right or wrong).
The poor kids in it wouldn't know who or what they would be working with from one day to the next. In the past, military alliances, although fragile, were fairly concrete. Now, political opinion can change with a few hours of 'clicks'. So, unless an Armed Forces was divorced from the control of individual Governments…(and isn't THAT a great idea!)…it would be hamstrung from the start of any major role.

Given current military spending by various countries, even under NATO's umbrella, and "suggested" defense contributions, I imagine if this was created, it would just wither on the vine.

If nations can't even pony up previously agreed to defense budget spending for their own countrymen and NATO, I seriously doubt they'll be willing and able to do so for the larger collective, and the EU army.