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| European Leaders Debate Proposals for Closer Military Ties | European Leaders Debate Proposals for Closer Military Ties |
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| BRATISLAVA, Slovakia — At a moment when many voters across the Continent want national governments to reclaim power from Brussels, the leaders of 27 European Union countries debated proposals Friday that would move in the other direction by creating a joint European military headquarters and increase cooperation among their armed forces. | BRATISLAVA, Slovakia — At a moment when many voters across the Continent want national governments to reclaim power from Brussels, the leaders of 27 European Union countries debated proposals Friday that would move in the other direction by creating a joint European military headquarters and increase cooperation among their armed forces. |
| The proposals, still at an early stage, were among the most far-reaching on the summit meeting’s agenda, the second to be held since Britain voted in June to leave the bloc. Prime Minister Theresa May of Britain was not invited to the gathering, and the prominence of the military proposals was evidence of how the absence of her country — long opposed to anything that resembled a European military command — is already altering debate within the bloc. | The proposals, still at an early stage, were among the most far-reaching on the summit meeting’s agenda, the second to be held since Britain voted in June to leave the bloc. Prime Minister Theresa May of Britain was not invited to the gathering, and the prominence of the military proposals was evidence of how the absence of her country — long opposed to anything that resembled a European military command — is already altering debate within the bloc. |
| It is not clear whether any of the ideas for tighter military coordination will come to fruition, especially to the degree that they would complicate the relationship between NATO and its European members. France, which has the most powerful European military of the 27 countries attending the meeting, is a proponent, and sees itself as the dominant force in a more unified structure. | It is not clear whether any of the ideas for tighter military coordination will come to fruition, especially to the degree that they would complicate the relationship between NATO and its European members. France, which has the most powerful European military of the 27 countries attending the meeting, is a proponent, and sees itself as the dominant force in a more unified structure. |
| But Ireland is concerned about retaining its traditional neutrality. And some of the Baltic nations bordering Russia are fearful of any steps that might undermine NATO’s security guarantees. | But Ireland is concerned about retaining its traditional neutrality. And some of the Baltic nations bordering Russia are fearful of any steps that might undermine NATO’s security guarantees. |
| In an unusually direct warning, as leaders arrived at the castle where the summit meeting was held, Prime Minister Taavi Roivas of Estonia publicly reminded Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany that any European defense initiatives should be done only “in cooperation” with NATO. | In an unusually direct warning, as leaders arrived at the castle where the summit meeting was held, Prime Minister Taavi Roivas of Estonia publicly reminded Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany that any European defense initiatives should be done only “in cooperation” with NATO. |
| Lithuania’s president, Dalia Grybauskaite, said there would be no consideration of a European army. “We can’t duplicate NATO, we cannot replace NATO,” she said. | Lithuania’s president, Dalia Grybauskaite, said there would be no consideration of a European army. “We can’t duplicate NATO, we cannot replace NATO,” she said. |
| That did not discourage President François Hollande of France, who suggested that one of the few ways left for Europe to be a power of global standing was to enhance its military under the guidance of his nation. | That did not discourage President François Hollande of France, who suggested that one of the few ways left for Europe to be a power of global standing was to enhance its military under the guidance of his nation. |
| “Do we want a leading role in the future of the world?” Mr. Hollande asked reporters on Friday. “There is no union if we don’t defend what we consider to be our values and interests. France is taking a leading role in European defense, but it can’t do it alone, and it doesn’t want to do it alone.” | “Do we want a leading role in the future of the world?” Mr. Hollande asked reporters on Friday. “There is no union if we don’t defend what we consider to be our values and interests. France is taking a leading role in European defense, but it can’t do it alone, and it doesn’t want to do it alone.” |
| At a joint news conference on Friday evening, Ms. Merkel and Mr. Hollande underscored the importance of their initiative to enhance military cooperation to Europe’s future. Ms. Merkel said much “more needs to be done” in the area of defense and expressed optimism that progress would be made in the coming months. | At a joint news conference on Friday evening, Ms. Merkel and Mr. Hollande underscored the importance of their initiative to enhance military cooperation to Europe’s future. Ms. Merkel said much “more needs to be done” in the area of defense and expressed optimism that progress would be made in the coming months. |
| The tension over the military proposals reflects a broader debate within the European Union about how to respond to the anti-Brussels sentiment behind Britain’s vote to leave the bloc and a general rise in nationalism and populism across the Continent. | The tension over the military proposals reflects a broader debate within the European Union about how to respond to the anti-Brussels sentiment behind Britain’s vote to leave the bloc and a general rise in nationalism and populism across the Continent. |
| The instinct of many national leaders and much of the bloc’s leadership in Brussels is to continue pushing ahead with cross-border integration on any number of fronts. But there are high levels of anti-European Union sentiment in countries like Hungary and Poland, and France and Germany are hurtling toward national elections next year in which far-right parties and populist forces could upend politics. On both the left and the right, some candidates for office in European capitals are edging away from support for further integration and emphasizing national sovereignty. | The instinct of many national leaders and much of the bloc’s leadership in Brussels is to continue pushing ahead with cross-border integration on any number of fronts. But there are high levels of anti-European Union sentiment in countries like Hungary and Poland, and France and Germany are hurtling toward national elections next year in which far-right parties and populist forces could upend politics. On both the left and the right, some candidates for office in European capitals are edging away from support for further integration and emphasizing national sovereignty. |
| “The military discussion allows leaders to show that the E.U. is not dead in the water and that it remains resilient after the ‘Brexit’ vote,” said Nick Witney, a senior policy fellow at European Council on Foreign Relations and the former chief executive of the European Defense Agency, a forum for European Union member states to cooperate on defense initiatives. | “The military discussion allows leaders to show that the E.U. is not dead in the water and that it remains resilient after the ‘Brexit’ vote,” said Nick Witney, a senior policy fellow at European Council on Foreign Relations and the former chief executive of the European Defense Agency, a forum for European Union member states to cooperate on defense initiatives. |
| In the past, he said, the European Union might have talked about deepening trade ties to show it had purpose, but “in the sour protectionist mood those agendas don’t work and so defense should be relatively uncontroversial flag to fly.” | In the past, he said, the European Union might have talked about deepening trade ties to show it had purpose, but “in the sour protectionist mood those agendas don’t work and so defense should be relatively uncontroversial flag to fly.” |
| Deeper security cooperation is also seen by some European leaders as a way to respond to concern about mass migration from the Middle East and the threat of terrorism. Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council, the umbrella group for the bloc’s leaders, said at a news conference on Friday evening that a number of the leaders meeting in Bratislava had decided on the “immediate” deployment of security personnel and equipment to Bulgaria in order to protect against another influx of refugees across its border with Turkey. | Deeper security cooperation is also seen by some European leaders as a way to respond to concern about mass migration from the Middle East and the threat of terrorism. Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council, the umbrella group for the bloc’s leaders, said at a news conference on Friday evening that a number of the leaders meeting in Bratislava had decided on the “immediate” deployment of security personnel and equipment to Bulgaria in order to protect against another influx of refugees across its border with Turkey. |
| Europe has made many false starts trying to unify its militaries to project power quickly and efficiently beyond its borders. An effort at creating fighting battalions is widely regarded as an abject failure as the troops were never deployed because of a lack of political will. | Europe has made many false starts trying to unify its militaries to project power quickly and efficiently beyond its borders. An effort at creating fighting battalions is widely regarded as an abject failure as the troops were never deployed because of a lack of political will. |
| But proposals to bolster the bloc’s military capacities took a major leap forward this month as a result of proposals by France and Germany. They include creating a joint military headquarters, expanding European Union forces and increasing joint cooperation on military procurement. The plans will discussed in the coming months. Some steps could be agreed to at a summit meeting in December. | But proposals to bolster the bloc’s military capacities took a major leap forward this month as a result of proposals by France and Germany. They include creating a joint military headquarters, expanding European Union forces and increasing joint cooperation on military procurement. The plans will discussed in the coming months. Some steps could be agreed to at a summit meeting in December. |
| The European Union developed so-called battle groups a decade ago as a response to Europe’s inability to do much to stop the Rwandan genocide and the brutal conflict in the former Yugoslavia. Although the battle groups have participated in joint European exercises, the bloc has mostly delegated combat operations to the United Nations and the African Union. | The European Union developed so-called battle groups a decade ago as a response to Europe’s inability to do much to stop the Rwandan genocide and the brutal conflict in the former Yugoslavia. Although the battle groups have participated in joint European exercises, the bloc has mostly delegated combat operations to the United Nations and the African Union. |
| One reason is squeamishness about European blood’s being spilled in the wake of popular disenchantment with Western-led military interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan. European governments have also backed away from previous commitments to join forces over procurement to protect their own weapons industries. | One reason is squeamishness about European blood’s being spilled in the wake of popular disenchantment with Western-led military interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan. European governments have also backed away from previous commitments to join forces over procurement to protect their own weapons industries. |
| Efforts to have Europe take the lead on major military operations for the Western allies have also been troubled. A British parliamentary panel concluded in a report issued this week that the intervention in Libya in 2011 led by Britain and France had been based on poor intelligence and led to a political collapse that aided the rise of the Islamic State in North Africa. | Efforts to have Europe take the lead on major military operations for the Western allies have also been troubled. A British parliamentary panel concluded in a report issued this week that the intervention in Libya in 2011 led by Britain and France had been based on poor intelligence and led to a political collapse that aided the rise of the Islamic State in North Africa. |
| Mr. Witney said he was confident that an operational headquarters would be created in Brussels since Britain could no longer veto that step, but “whether those operations actually happen depends on national capitals,” he said. |