Forces: January 7, 2001

Archives

The European Union has succeeded in gathering a considerable number of assets for its new Rapid Reaction Force, but key capabilities are missing. There are more than enough troops (about 100,000) but not nearly enough support, transportation, and command elements, which would have to be borrowed from NATO. Also, most of the troops are also committed to NATO, which technically places the countries involved in a position from which they could honor one treaty but not both. 

@ Britain pledged an armored brigade, a marine brigade, 72 combat aircraft, an aircraft carrier, two nuclear submarines, four surface warships, and five support and amphibious ships.

@ France pledged 12,000 troops including a tank brigade and an engineer brigade, 75 combat aircraft, the new aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, and 11 other warships. 

@ Germany pledged 13,500 troops

@ Italy 6,000 troops 

@ Spain 6,000 troops

@ Netherlands 5,000 troops

@ Greece 3,500 troops

@ Austria 2,000 troops 

@ Finland 2,000 troops

@ Sweden 1,500

@ Belgium 1,000 troops

@ Ireland 1,000 troops

@Portugal 1,000 troops

@ Luxembourg 100 troops. 

Denmark was the only EU country to refuse to join. Turkey, which isn't in the EU but wants to be, offered a mechanized brigade and two squadrons of F-16s.--Stephen V Cole

 

X

ad

Help Keep Us From Drying Up

We need your help! Our subscription base has slowly been dwindling.

Each month we count on your contributions. You can support us in the following ways:

  1. Make sure you spread the word about us. Two ways to do that are to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
  2. Subscribe to our daily newsletter. We’ll send the news to your email box, and you don’t have to come to the site unless you want to read columns or see photos.
  3. You can contribute to the health of StrategyPage.
Subscribe   Contribute   Close