European Union's Foreign Policy Exposed as Non-Substantive in Face of US Military Strikes Against Iraq

Strategic Insights -

In December 1998, the European Union's (EU) foreign policy was put to the test as the United States considered military strikes against Iraq. The US ultimately went ahead with the strikes, with only the United Kingdom (UK) providing military support. The EU's lack of cohesion and leadership on the issue highlighted the limitations of its common foreign policy. Meanwhile, several Arab states, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Syria, warned Iraq's President Saddam Hussein that failure to cooperate with the United Nations (UN) would lead to dire consequences.

Key Takeaways:

  • The European Union's foreign policy was ineffective in coordinating a unified response to the US military strikes against Iraq, highlighting its lack of substance.
  • Only the United Kingdom provided military support for the US, while other EU member states were lukewarm or hostile to the idea of military action.
  • Eight Arab states, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Syria, issued joint warnings to Saddam Hussein, emphasizing the consequences of not cooperating with the UN.
  • The European Commission condemned Iraq's decision to end cooperation with UN weapons inspectors but stopped short of endorsing military action.
  • France, with the most capable military, offered token support and urged a diplomatic solution, while Germany and Italy also expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of air strikes.
  • The US and UK argue that two UN Security Council resolutions (1154 and 1205) provide sufficient authority for military action against Iraq, which has been in violation of its obligations and threatened the "severest consequences" for non-compliance.

Statistics:

  • 12 Tornado aircraft from the UK are stationed in Kuwait, and two warships are in the Gulf (Source: The text does not specify the names of the warships).
  • Over 3,000 troops have been deployed by the US to the region according to the Pentagon (Source: The text does not specify the exact timeline or location of the deployment).
  • Iraq could rebuild its chemical and biological weapons capability within months without UN inspectors on the ground, according to experts (Source: The text does not specify the exact timeline).

Sources:

  • The text does not include specific sources, but the information is consistent with various news reports from December 1998 and the surrounding period.