PRESS RELEASE

20 February 2001 

Blair Must Seek Middle Ground Ground
on Future EU Force

Easing U.S. concerns surrounding European plans to create a Rapid Reaction Force (RRF) will be a main objective during U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair’s visit to Washington next week.  During his 23-24 February visit, Blair will meet with President George W. Bush to continue discussions begun by U.K. Foreign Secretary Robin Cook during his meetings with Secretary of State Colin Powell earlier this month.  Mr. Blair will be playing the familiar British role of intermediary between the United States and the European Union.

The proposed 60,000-troop RRF – intended for use in military operations ranging from small-scale conflict prevention to full-scale separation of warring parties – has led to concern over the future of the NATO alliance, from both the United States and Conservatives in the United Kingdom.

“If we have a competing institution that would be inconsistent with military effectiveness, NATO could be weakened,” declared William Cohen, then-U.S. defense secretary, during a meeting of NATO defense ministers in December.

However, British government officials have been resolute in their assertion that the RRF – scheduled for deployment readiness by 2003 – is designed to complement NATO, rather than act as a rival organization. 

“The European Union is not going to take on collective defense, that is the job of NATO,” responded Mr. Cook to attacks from U.K. Conservatives that the RRF will be, in essence, a standing European army.  

Mr. Blair will undoubtedly aim to convince President Bush that the United Kingdom has no interest in undermining NATO’s role as Europe’s premier defense organization.  In addition, Mr. Blair must begin to establish open channels of communication with the new U.S. administration if institutional links between NATO and the RRF are to be developed.

Much of the U.S. apprehension is based on French-led proposals for the EU to develop a planning center separate from NATO.  The United Kingdom, like many other EU member states, likewise has maintained there should be no separate European operational planning facility.

The U.S. position continues to be that the RRF should have full access to NATO resources, however only if operational planning occurs at NATO’s Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe.

It remains to be seen if Mr. Blair will be able to take advantage of the ‘special relationship’ between the United Kingdom and the United States to help carve out a middle ground between American desire to preserve a strong NATO and European aspirations for greater independence in the realm of European security.

For more information, please contact: 
Theresa Hitchens or Kathleen Miller at 202-347-8340.

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