In the wake of the Afghan crisis, the European Union is considering the formation of a rapid military response force

On Thursday, EU defense ministers will discuss Proposals for a European rapid reaction force, after the bloc was sidelined during the US-led evacuation of Afghanistan.

In this context, the votes for the development of the European Union have multiplied Their joint military ability to respond quickly to crisesIn the aftermath of chaos at Kabul airport after the Taliban seized power.

Ministers ready to review the proposal, originally issued in May, to establish A force of 5,000 people As part of a comprehensive EU strategy review that is expected to be completed next year.

However, they are still Doubts about the real political will to engage such a force, because the bloc has never succeeded in using the system of the so-called “combat groups” established in 2007.

“It is clear that the need for greater European defense has never been more evident than it is today after the events in Afghanistan,” Josep Borrell, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, said at the start of the meeting. “Sometimes something happens that pushes the story and makes a breakthrough and I think Afghanistan happened this summer [boreal] It is one of those cases.” Added.

Asked about the possibility of a new force, Borrell insisted “We have to look for something more ready to activate, more effective,” since the so-called “fighting combos” have not been used.

Slovenian Defense Minister Matej Tonin – whose country holds the rotating presidency of the European Union – estimated that the rapid reaction force could reach a limit Between “5000 and 20,000” is valid.

The official called for a new system that would allow troops from “willing nations” to be sent on behalf of the European Union once the majority of member states agreed, rather than the consensus required of “fighting groups.”

For her part, German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer noted that the lesson of Afghanistan is “we are becoming more independent as Europeans and we can act more independently”. But he insisted, “It is very important that we not act as a substitute for NATO and the Americans.”

(With information from AFP)

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