Brussels: Stung by the collapse of Afghan troops and evacuations led by US was chaotic through Kabul Airport, the European Union on Wednesday revealed a new plan to develop its own defense capacity to ensure that he had more freedom to act in the crisis in the future.
More than 100,000 people were evacuated in the last days of Frenzied from US Airlift after President Joe Biden said American forces would leave, forcing the hands of European Union countries unable to face the Taliban alone.
Thousands of Afghans remain, desperate to avoid the uncertainty of the Taliban government.
Chaos scenes including Afghanistan fell on their deaths in terms of military aircraft when taking off and suicide bombings that killed 169 Afghans and 13 US and summarized the end of the two decades led by Washington, financial support and security.
from Europeans.
In a state of stylish from the EU address, European Commission President Ursula Von Der Leyen said that the failure of government and security forces in Kabul and their decline with Taliban militants in a matter of days raises a disturbing question for the 27-nation.
Block, but also for NATO.
“Witnessing the revealed events in Afghanistan is very painful for all servicen and servicewomen families that fall,” Von der Leyen told EU parliamentarians.
“To ensure that their services will never be in vain, we have to reflect on how this mission can end up suddenly.” “There are very troubling questions that allies must overcome in NATO,” said the former German Defense Minister.
But he acknowledged that cooperation with NATO, where the US so far is the most powerful and influential member, also must be a priority.
However, Von der Leyen said in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, that “Europe can – and clearly must – can and willing to do more about himself,” and he insisted that “it was time for Europe to step over the next level.” Beginning This month, the EU ministers argue creating standby power in around 5,000 troops to spread the crisis such as those at Kabul airport.
The plan faced opposition from several 22 European Union countries who were also members of NATO, especially countries bordering Russia entertained by US security guarantees.
The idea is not too new.
The EU has a battlefield system for use to hot spots but they have never been used, and Europeans generally reluctant to send their troops to active conflict zones.
“What has resisted us until now is not only lack of capacity – it is a lack of political will,” Von Der Leyen said.
“If we develop this political will, there is a lot that we can do at the UE level.” He said the European Union must put the foundation for the division of decision making and better collective intelligence, increasing the interoperability of military equipment 27 member countries, and investing in general projects such as combat jets, drones, and cyber capacity.
The EU Chief Executive proposes neglect of value added tax for defense equipment developed and produced in Europe, which can help weaning blocks from its dependence on US equipment.
Von Der Leyen said that he and French President Emmanuel Macron, who had called for more EU’s defense autonomy, especially during Trump’s administrative chaos, will hold a summit on European defense when France took over the presidency turning blocks on the first.
Half of 2022.