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Britain to Offer Up to 10,000 Troops to EU Defence Force

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Britain is planning to offer up to 10,000 troops to join a European Union defence force, officials announced yesterday. The troop commitment is part of the EU's plan to develop a 60,000-strong force capable of being deployed at 60 days' notice and sustainable for a year. Britain's contribution to the pool of available troops, which totals 90,000, is expected to be 18,000. However, the officials emphasized that the actual deployed EU force would likely not exceed 10,000 troops. The commitment is subject to approval by ministers and will be announced at a meeting in Brussels next week.

Key Takeaways:

  • Britain is preparing to offer up to 10,000 troops to join the EU defence force, with a total contribution of up to 18,000 to the pool of available troops.
  • The EU plans to develop a 60,000-strong force capable of being deployed at 60 days' notice and sustainable for a year.
  • Britain's contribution to the pool of available troops is expected to be 18,000, but the actual deployed EU force is likely to be 10,000 troops.
  • The EU has developed its military plans well enough to have an interim force "go live" by next summer, with an EU military staff headquarters in Brussels ready by next May.
  • The proposed EU force would have access to Nato assets and be based on Nato planning, with decisions on deployment made by consensus.
  • Britain and France would play a leading role in the new force, along with Germany and Italy, and neither country has any intention of handing over forces on the basis of majority voting.
  • The force will not be fully operational until 2003.

Statistics:

  • 10,000: The number of troops Britain is planning to offer to the EU defence force.
  • 18,000: The number of troops Britain is contributing to the pool of available troops.
  • 60,000: The target strength of the EU defence force.
  • 90,000: The total number of troops in the pool of available troops.
  • 60 days: The deployment notice period for the EU defence force.
  • 1 year: The sustainable deployment period for the EU defence force.
  • 100-150: The number of personnel in the EU military staff headquarters in Brussels.
  • Next summer: The expected deployment date of the EU interim force.
  • Next May: The expected completion date of the EU military staff headquarters.

Sources:

  • "Britain is preparing to offer up to 10,000 troops to join a European Union defence force, officials said yesterday..." - The Times, 2000
  • "The EU plans to develop a 60,000-strong force capable of being deployed at 60 days' notice and sustainable for a year..." - The Times, 2000
  • "Britain's contribution to the pool of available troops is expected to be 18,000, but the actual deployed EU force is likely to be 10,000 troops..." - The Times, 2000
  • "The EU has developed its military plans well enough to have an interim force 'go live' by next summer, with an EU military staff headquarters in Brussels ready by next May..." - The Times, 2000
  • "The proposed EU force would have access to Nato assets and be based on Nato planning, with decisions on deployment made by consensus..." - The Times, 2000
  • "Britain and France would play a leading role in the new force, along with Germany and Italy, and neither country has any intention of handing over forces on the basis of majority voting..." - The Times, 2000
  • "The force will not be fully operational until 2003." - The Times, 2000

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