The European defence and NATO are complementary and not not rival

"The European defence and NATO are complementary and not not rival." In turn, the Presidents Barack Obama and Nicolas Sarkozy, Chancellor Angela Merkel and other heads of State or Government participating Friday and Saturday in Strasbourg-Kehl to the 60th anniversary of NATO, stressed Europe's relationship with America across the Atlantic Alliance. President Obama has understood that "a strong Europe, a Europe of defence that exists is the best asset of the United States", summarized the head of the French State. It is this recognition of the European "pillar" President Sarkozy wanted to complete the full return of the France in the military structure of NATO.

For the Chairman of French as German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, the reinstatement of the France in the integrated command must enable Europe to weigh more heavily in the decisions of NATO, now expanded with the arrival of Croatia and the Albania in 28 countries, of which 21 are members of the Union European.

But by agreeing to play the game, the "partner and also as the godfather of Europe", Barack Obama, lance, him, a challenge to Europeans on their ability to take on more responsibilities and "share the burden", not only in terms of military resources but of commitment capacity. Has it been heard On the Afghanistan, Europeans certainly gave a green light to the new strategy of President Obama in this country, but desired by American reinforcements are far from the account. The Europeans should send some 5,000 military but nearly 3,000 temporarily only to ensure safety during the Afghan elections next August. The United States, who are already up to 38,000 troops in the country, should send more military personal 21,000.

Speak with one voice

But it is not the only challenge for Europeans. "Strategic transport after the serious difficulties of the Airbus A400 could also be a test for the Europeans," who are suffering from lack of means of transport of the troops on the theatres of operations, said a NATO official. This issue is particularly sensitive budget expenses for the defence of the Europeans, with the exception of the France and Britain, are still very far from those of the United States.

For many, any strengthening of the weight of the Union within NATO depends above all on the political will of the Europeans themselves and their ability to speak with one voice on defense. What is still the case.

In the meantime, the "complementarity" between European defence and NATO has nonetheless already taken shape since the launch of the European security and defence policy to the Franco-British Summit in Saint-Malo in 1998. The European Union thus installed a "cell" of command in the "headquarters of the allied European powers" (Shape) of NATO in Mons, to ensure inter alia the sharing of tasks between the two institutions and to avoid "duplicates" in operations. "There is no beauty contest: NATO is a military organization under political decisions and the European Union is a political organization with military capabilities", said a European officer. This command of thirty people who has access to the means of NATO for external operations planning, is certainly a start. But it is far from the initial project of the France and the Germany of an autonomous European external operations planning command.