BELGIUM: Nato defence ministers yesterday brushed aside European fears about escalating costs and agreed they could deploy eight military missions simultaneously around the globe, in a significant shift from previous cold war planning.
They endorsed plans for the 26-nation alliance to run six concurrent missions of up to 30,000 troops and two larger operations involving more than 60,000 personnel in total. They also confirmed they would increase the Nato peacekeeping force in Afghanistan from 9,000 to 17,000.
These bold moves came as the European Commission flexed its diplomatic muscles, urging a more co-ordinated EU response to global issues and calling for the 25-member bloc to "punch its weight" in the world.
It wants next week's EU summit to approve proposals for Javier Solana, the foreign policy chief negotiator and designated foreign minister under the frozen constitution, to work more closely with heads of government and commissioners in planning strategy.
It also called for a nascent EU consular service and "double-hatting" of EU diplomats.
The shift in Nato planning came despite problems in persuading cash-strapped European allies to provide troops and specialist units for the new response force which, according to the UK defence secretary, Des Browne, is "key to our vision for the modern Nato, capable of mounting the full range of military missions".
With the US filling gaps left by its European allies, Britain said it would add six Jaguar attack planes and air-to-air refuelling aircraft to the response force, which is scheduled to deploy 20,000 land, sea and airborne troops in crisis regions.- (Guardian service)