Minister of State for Defence Frederick Curzon has claimed that the UK is “very keen” to support French President Emmanuel Macron’s plan for a European intervention force.

The European Intervention Initiative force would be separate from other EU initiatives, meaning the UK could take part if it wishes.

“We’re very keen to support President Macron in this initiative,” Curzon told AFP here.

“We look forward to sitting down with our French colleagues to work through the ideas that they have formulated for a more efficient and joined up security and defence system across Europe. We think it has a real part to play.”

Frederick Curzon, also known as the 7th Earl Howe, is Minister of State for Defence and Deputy Leader of the House of Lords.

“It certainly will help to achieve what we are looking for, which is a deep and special partnership with our European colleagues in defence and security” he added.

According to AFP, the European Union this week announced plans to spend nearly 20 billion euros on defence in its budget for 2021-2027, most of which will go on research and developing new military technologies for the union.

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George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
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Chris
Chris
5 years ago

Given the EU’s dictatorial attitude to the UK I have one question for whoever is floating this monumental stupidity:

WHY?

Anthony
Anthony
5 years ago
Reply to  Chris

Because it will help us deliver our foreign policy goals, such as stabilising fragile states, e.g. Mali and Sierra Leone. Because none of the European powers can afford to do it all alone. Why wouldn’t we share the burden?

Marc
Marc
5 years ago
Reply to  Anthony

“Stabilising fragile states” why would your average British squadie want to fight other peoples wars?are they just guns for hire nowadays.

Chris
Chris
5 years ago
Reply to  Anthony

(Chris H) Anthony – You laid out some possibly worthwhile objectives for the EU’s foreign policy objectives not the UK’s but failed to answer my question WHY we should in any way support them in those objectives. Once again we are falling into the EU’s trap of supplying the skills and assets while they take the credit. And all this at a time when they are treating us like some twopenny third world country rather than respect us for what and who we are and how we have been one of the biggest providers of MONEY for their failed political… Read more »

BB85
BB85
5 years ago

Money money money. They need our heavy lift capability to make up for the 100 A400’s they ordered for industrial workshare but forgot to pay for.

Mr J Bell
Mr J Bell
5 years ago

They need us because they would rather spend money on building huge HQ buildings, employing tens of thousands of beaurocrats and ensuring the EU has the best stocked champagne and caviar stores in the world. The UK has unique capabilities that the EU needs. 60% of Europe’s nuclear powered attack submarines. 2 out of the 3 real strike carriers and a large proportion of Europe’s drone and attack helicopter fleets. Heavy lift. The EU has little to no heavy lift helicopters or tactical air transport. The French needed the RAF Globemaster aircraft to deliver heavy supplies like armoured vehicles and… Read more »

Steve
Steve
5 years ago
Reply to  Mr J Bell

Its easy to look at the weaknesses of the EU military, but equally we can play that with the UK forces, which has gaps all over the place, significant ones being lack of maritime patrol aircraft, no air based anti ship missiles, lack of punch in medium armored level, lack of soldiers/sailors/airman, lack of modern land based air defense, ship based anti-ship missiles that the admirals described as obsolete and the list goes on and on. Reality is any European countries days of a credible military force are over.

Steven
Steven
5 years ago
Reply to  Mr J Bell

Who voted for Mr. Curzon ? Exactly

Riga
Riga
5 years ago
Reply to  Mr J Bell

You do spout some guff. Exactly which 2 strike carriers do we field at the moment?
How many of the T class boats are fit for service? For that matter, will the 7th Astute ever be finished if they keep robbing it to keep other boats in service?
Who provides our MPA capability?
We have helicopters deployed on a French platform.

Try to post in a more reasonable factual style.

Paul.P
Paul.P
5 years ago

Brexit means the EU Army is dead. Long live the European intervention force? Pragmatic move by Mr Macron.

Steven
Steven
5 years ago

So he is another unelected turd from the House of Lords that apperantly does’nt understand the instruction that the British people sent with the referendum.

Steven
Steven
5 years ago

*apparently

SoleSurvivor
SoleSurvivor
5 years ago

It’s a fantastic idea and we should be well part of it, we have always been one of Europe’s main countries for defence and long may it continue. More British blood has been spilt on mainland Europe than anywhere else on the planet so it’s only right we continue to defend and work with our European allies, who some also are our oldest allies. Just read a little bit about it and it really is something that could be used. Point being, the refugee crisis that came from Libya, now i know a task group was set up with naval… Read more »

Steve
Steve
5 years ago
Reply to  SoleSurvivor

the problem will always be one of politics and the 3 nations wanting different things from a situation. A clear military threat is unlikely these days and so militaries are used for less obvious threats real or more likely not. Any European nation alone could easily have sent a force to take and hold the maIn Libyan ports or just blockage them with an aggressive naval move, but there is no political will to do it and no belief it would really solve the problem.

Marc
Marc
5 years ago
Reply to  Steve

The EU is actively encouraging it,god only knows why.

Mr J Bell
Mr J Bell
5 years ago

The EU is actively encouraging it because it is another way to get the UK to pay and then potentially bleed for their defence. Take this notion to parliament and let’s have a proper debate by our elected representatives.
Join the EU intervention force or not?
This is not Lord Howe’s decision to make. He is an unelected baffoon.

David Steeper
5 years ago

I just hope the EU are careful what they tell us. They’ve thrown is out of the Galileo project because we’re not to be trusted with security details. Yep i’m being sarcastic. This is reason number 693 why I would make a terrible minister. I’d tell them to go have sexual relations with themselves.

Sceptical Richard
Sceptical Richard
5 years ago

The same old xenophobic, anti European clap trap comes out again. So predictable! I really don’t see what is achieved by this. But let’s return to the point. Our history, our heritage, our culture, our social values are all shared with most of our European partners, many of which are old allies of the U.K. The U.K. is a European country. It is in our interest for Europe to be safe and stable. We have a lot to contribute to that safety and stability. NATO is our primary defence and security alliance, and long may it survive and prosper, but… Read more »

Paul.P
Paul.P
5 years ago

Good post. Brexit is a reality. Europe is now the EU + UK + a few others. Junker might ‘lead’ the EU but Macron is leading Europe. He is pointing a direction and leading by example.

SoleSurvivor
SoleSurvivor
5 years ago
Reply to  Paul.P

That’s an important point, Europe is not defined by the EU, more so now we are leaving, Europe is Europe.

Macron is leading Europe at the moment, and if we had a better leader there is no reason why the UK cannot lead Europe in foreign policy and defence matters.

To lead Europe is simple, it’s to be the leading man or women out of Britain, France and Germany, nothing to do with the EU as a whole, it’s whoever is taking the lead out of those three leaders.

SoleSurvivor
SoleSurvivor
5 years ago

Good comment Richard. In regards to the Iranian Nuclear deal, last night was a sad day in history when the German Chancellor, French President and British foreign secretary go to the US on a lobbying mission, and then lose to the Israeli lobby and Saudi Arabian demands. It is concrete proof that the UK’s voice is not listened to by the current regime in the White House. And yet certain posters on here think we are going to shape the world by America’s side when we leave the EU, absolute pie in the sky thinking from people with their heads… Read more »

Chris
Chris
5 years ago
Reply to  SoleSurvivor

(Chris H) Solesurvivor – Quote: “And yet certain posters on here think we are going to shape the world by America’s side when we leave the EU, absolute pie in the sky thinking from people with their heads buried well and truly up their own rear.” Having belief and hope for your country’s future is not pie in the sky nor is it an indicator I have my head up my arse. Quite the opposite in fact. My eyes are looking to new horizons and a belief we will succeed by our best efforts or fail by them as well.… Read more »

SoleSurvivor
SoleSurvivor
5 years ago
Reply to  Chris

Chris all that means nothing against great powers/superpowers, UN Security Council, top 5 economy etc, we have absolute zero influence on any other top 5 economy barring Germany maybe. Look at the flashpoints in the world, no influence in the SCS with China, no influence over Russia in Ukraine and Syria, and absolutely zero influence over the USA in the Middle East, or anywhere else the US is around the globe. It’s all good to have hope and belief but be realistic please. You are the exact kind of person I’m talking about, you have no respect for the 48%,… Read more »

Chris
Chris
5 years ago
Reply to  SoleSurvivor

(Chris H) SoleSurvivor – I just checked and nowhere do I show I ” have no respect for the 48%, the 16 million Brits that have a different opinion from you”. I argued against YOUR point of view that disrespected me and others in a very personal way for holding a different point of view to you. So maybe look in the mirror on the disrespect … quite amusing you list the issues where the EU has had zero influence at all and somehow label this as a UK failure. On that argument we couldn’t be worse off could we?… Read more »

SoleSurvivor
SoleSurvivor
5 years ago
Reply to  SoleSurvivor

“I argued against YOUR point of view that disrespected me and others in a very personal way” You wrote that because of this.. “And yet certain posters on here think we are going to shape the world by America’s side when we leave the EU, absolute pie in the sky thinking from people with their heads buried well and truly up their own rear.“ Wow. And just a tip CHRIS using CAPITALS on certain WORDS does not make your ARGUMENT any more VALID, it just looks like I’m ENGAGING with a 15 year old. I can see why some people… Read more »

Chris
Chris
5 years ago
Reply to  SoleSurvivor

(Chris H) Solesurvivor – Well done you list a series of quotes that no one here made and then when you quote me you completely change the words. Tut! You then of course play the Remainer game of projecting a falsehood to justify further sarcasm about what my views were in 2016 and what they are now having no idea who I am or what my views were or are now. As for Sovereignty of Parliament you seem unable to comprehend that Sovereignty cannot return until we leave the EU. Which we haven’t actually done yet I commented to someone… Read more »

SoleSurvivor
SoleSurvivor
5 years ago
Reply to  SoleSurvivor

And that reply is a reply of a beaten man with no argument left.

Marc
Marc
5 years ago
Reply to  SoleSurvivor

How many times do remainers have to make the same mistake we are leaving the EU not Europe as for remainers accepting the result ha bloody ha is that why Clegg ,Milliband ,Sturmer the BBC and their ilk are still trying their damndest to thwart the result,a pox on all of them as far as i am concerned.

Chris
Chris
5 years ago

(Chris H) sceptical Richard – I got as far as you calling me a xenophobe and realised its pointless having discussions with Europhiles. Like all Remainers you trot out self righteous and sanctimonious attitudes towards people who have possibly been around a bit longer than you and who have a different but equally valid PoV. I voted to Remain in 1975 and came to regret it as the ‘Political Union’ lie came to the surface. Of course you Remainers never asked us about joining the EU did you? And then you play the blurring game by carefully using the term… Read more »

Paul.P
Paul.P
5 years ago
Reply to  Chris

Agreed, Trump is the problem. What with moving the US embassy to Jerusalem and now this derogation of the Iran deal it seems he is a puppet of the US Jewish lobby. The Jews are pretty adept at setting other nations at each others throat, in their own interests.

SoleSurvivor
SoleSurvivor
5 years ago
Reply to  Chris

“I got as far as you calling me a xenophobe and realised its pointless having discussions with Europhiles”

Proceeds to have discussion…

?

Chris
Chris
5 years ago
Reply to  SoleSurvivor

(Chris H) Solesurvivor – Knowing arguing is pointless with the person concerned doesn’t preclude laying out the arguments against for the benefit of other readers. This is a discussion board with more than just you two contributing is it not? Maybe that is too subtle for you?

Not sure what the Iranian deal has to do with the EU. And therefore a completely different topic…

All you have added is the ‘really clever’ sarcasm and making everything personal but then its what you do when challenged as we see frequently.

Paul.P
Paul.P
5 years ago

Iran is continuing to destabilise the Middle East in Syria. The Nuclear proliferarion agreement has not it seems quelled their ambition to destroy Israel. This is a defining moment. We have decided our interests and values are closer to those of France and Europe than they are to the US.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/04/24/war-iran-israel-coming-britain-must-take-stand-against-formers/
Could HMS QE could be in service with a squadron of F-35Bs within the time frame of Trump’s reimposition of US sanctions?
To what extent are Russian S-400s sheltering Iranian forces in Syria?
Time to put your tin hats on.

Chris
Chris
5 years ago
Reply to  Paul.P

(Chris H) Paul.P – You make an astute observation about the wider ambitions of Iran. All I would add is if we can all park Iran’s nuclear ambitions it allows the political and trading space to influence them on the issues you mention. Without this Treaty the only item under focus will be Iran and nuclear weapons. Which will give Iran freedom to do as it wishes elsewhere unseen. As for Iran vs Israel there are two parties involved and to look just at Iran and ignore what Israel is doing in the region is to misunderstand the issues. Israel… Read more »

Sceptical Richard
Sceptical Richard
5 years ago

I think we can all agree that Trump is a danger to the world. Between him, Putin, Kim, Xi and Modi we have the potential for a lot of testosterone fuelled firestorms round the world. As PaulP says, reach for your tin hats. It’s for this reason that I think it’s the worse possible time for Britain to be going it alone. In an unstable multi-polar world I happen to think we should be part of one of the most stable and best governed poles in the world to maximise our influence and protect our values. By the way, the… Read more »

Chris
Chris
5 years ago

(Chris H) ScepticalRichard – Sorry but you mislead by your calling it ‘European’. Its not. Its a French led EU initiative simple as. You say you do not want to continue the EU debate (fair enough) but then write contentious comments to show support and advocacy for the EU which then need addressing: “I think it’s the worse possible time for Britain to be going it alone. In an unstable multi-polar world I happen to think we should be part of one of the most stable and best governed poles in the world to maximise our influence and protect our… Read more »

Luke
Luke
5 years ago

When Germany takes its own defence seriously and spends some money I’ll take notice. Until then I’m not interested. The German armed forces are a total joke at the moment. They should be told to get serious or the UK just isn’t interested. The only worthwhile defence bloc is NATO. It’s as simple as that. An EU defence bloc will be about as much use as tits on a fish.

dadsarmy
dadsarmy
5 years ago

The UK Cabinet already said they want to continue defence and security co-operation with Europe, this is really just confirmation of that, and that it is being discussed. It’s not the same as PESCO, which by the way is also voluntary, Denmark and I think Malta having declined to join in (Denmark is a member of NORDEFCO). PESCO is also unlikely to be a military force. The UK and other countries have already done this in the past, and work closely with France already, and if it works it could actually reduce the load the UK carries with its combined… Read more »

Franz Menzies
5 years ago

Interesting threads above; first I go one way then the other; phew! Okay, Britain voted out of the EU and that is a good thing. But Britain must also stay militarily engaged with other European powers, because it can’t pull up anchor and move away from what it is, geographically a part of – Europe. It is no good for Britain to become a reverse colony of the USA under full scale idiots like Trump who are seemingly owned by America’s Jewish lobby. As someone remarked, the Israeli tail appears to wag that American dog, unfortunately. So, Britain has to… Read more »

Elliott
Elliott
5 years ago
Reply to  Franz Menzies

1. Japan either buys domestic or buys American and no European country can compete with US influence there. 2. Same story with South Korea the president of which actually said Trump deserved a peace prize. 3.”Jewish Lobby,” pray tell how you think 3% of the US population (who vote Democratic statistically) had Any bearing decision? The Iran deal was NEVER popular in the US that would be why President Obama had to lie repeatedly to get it passed. Also in the never managed even with lying to get through as a Treaty but as a Agreement which requires much less… Read more »

Mr Bell
Mr Bell
5 years ago

Blimey folks- some heated debate- good on you all. Iran is not a nice benign country- they definetly do wish the west the worst possible outcome and would love to see us destroyed. Better for the west to stick together via NATO (not some EU conglomerate of Ethelred the unready) I think we should politely turn down the request to join this intervention force- unless of course this is debated in parliament and agreed by parliament. Our armed forces are already committed around the world and I cannot see the much reduced UK armed forces having the capacity to meet… Read more »