Rasmussen calls on Europe to do more for the transatlantic alliance

By Nigel Chamberlain, NATO Watch

Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen addressed a joint meeting of the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs and Subcommittee on Security and Defence plus representatives of Defence and Foreign Affairs Committees of national parliaments on 6 May.
 
Very much following on from his presentation at the Atlantic Council meeting in Washington last week, the Secretary General said he firmly believes that Europe must have a strong common security and defence policy: “If European nations do not make a firm commitment to invest in security and defence, then all talk about a strengthened European defence and security policy will just be hot air”.
 
He asked for three things to be kept firmly in mind:
 
that hard capabilities are needed to back up diplomacy, without which Europe will lack credibility and influence;
 
that a continuing decline in defence budgets will inevitably result in a declining role on the global stage - so Europe needs to work collaboratively now and reinvest in security as soon as economies recover; and
 
that the transatlantic burden needs to be shared more equitably and for European nations to develop a truly global perspective.
 
The Secretary General called for the European Council meeting in December 2013, which will focus on security and defence, to showcase:
 
A Europe that is both able to act, and willing to act. And it should encourage the European Union and NATO to do more together. To consult more. Coordinate more. And cooperate more. To get us there will require strong political resolve – including here in this house, as well as in national parliaments. 
 
However, despite his pleas for Europeans to do more, Rasmussen was sceptical that Europe would have a common defence policy in the foreseeable future: "Realistically, I don't think we will see it in our lifetime. I have learned how much individual nations protect their integrity and their national sovereignty when it comes to defence and security policy - that is really untouchable".
 
This theme of NATO-EU relations, and the need to do more with less, was also aired in the Secretary General's monthly press conference just before he went across to the European Parliament. He called NATO and the EU 'strategic partners' and said: “European security can not and should not be limited to a single framework. For over sixty years, we see that the security of Europe depends on the action of both NATO and the EU”. He spoke of the successes that collaborative effort had achieved but added that “NATO and the EU have to be more ambitious to complement and reinforce each other”. 
 
Edited highlights from the Q&A session:
 
Q1.Nawab Khan, Kuwait News Agency: There have been reports of two Israeli strikes in recent days in Syria. And also reports on the use of chemical weapons. Are you concerned that the conflict is now spreading? 
 
A1. Secretary General: I'm aware of the press reports. I have no indication of such activity in the area relevant to the deployment of NATO Patriots. We do have indications that chemical weapons may have been used but we don't have consolidated information on this.
 
Q2. Teri Schultz, National Public Radio and CBS News: Without consolidated or firm evidence of who is using the chemical weapons, how much more does it concern you to hear that the opposition may have used sarin gas? 
 
A2. Secretary General: Any such use of chemical weapons is a breach of international law and of course a matter of grave concern. 
 
Q3. Noureddine Fridhi, Al Arabiya News: I would like to ask you if you are seriously concerned about the increasing Israeli involvement in this internal Syrian conflict? What about Madame Carla Del Ponte's (a member of the International Inquiry Committee) report suggesting that the opposition used chemical weapons in March? 
 
A3. Secretary General: We have expressed concerns about the risk of a spillover of this conflict. I don't know on what basis Carla Del Ponte has made her statements. 
 
Q4. Minna Skau, Danish News Agency Ritzau: You have spoken about some of the experiences and mistakes from Iraq. Can you elaborate, say what you have learned from them and how that might help in a clearer definition of what the red line in Syria actually is?
 
A4. Secretary General: It is of the utmost importance that United Nations inspectors get full and free access to Syria to investigate what has actually happened. And it's regrettable that so far the Syrian authorities have denied the United Nations such access.
 
Q5. Brooks Tigner, Jane's Defence: Your desire is that NATO and the EU work more closely together. Really, there's nothing the two can do officially other than issue political declarations for one; and unofficially the two sides are already informally coordinating their respective PNS and Smart Defence initiatives. The real challenge to Europe CSD place in the world is this shrinking defence industrial base, lower R&D spending, etc.. So what is it the two sides can do together officially? 
 
A5. Secretary General: If Europeans are not willing to invest a sufficient amount of money in defence, then all talk about a strengthened European defence will just be hot air.
 
Q6. Adrian Croft, Reuters: The French Defence White Paper last week called for spending to fall to 1.5% of GDP in 2014. Do you think that this is setting a bad example that one of your largest most powerful military member is cutting military spending to that extent?
 
A6. Secretary General: We do not interfere with national decisions on the level of defence spending. France is an Ally that has demonstrated not the only military capability to deploy beyond French borders, it has also demonstrated a political will to actually use her military capabilities. I welcome the French White Paper. I've studied it. I have seen that France is strongly committed to working within NATO; strongly committed to the Transatlantic Defence Alliance. And I've also take a note of the fact that compared to previous plans it seems that France will, so to speak hold the line, when it comes to defence investments. 
 
Q7. Le Monde: Regarding your plea for reconciliation between the EU and NATO, do you see a political solution to the problems that has blocked this collaboration for a long time, namely the Cyprus problem? Your presence in the European Parliament will undoubtedly strengthen the rumour that you are considering a European high function in the future?
 
A7. Secretary General: Yes, to fundamentally solve the problems in the relationship between NATO and the EU, we need a solution to the Cyprus problem. And I think both parts of the island would profit from a reunification. And, as regards future plans, I have my hands full. I'm 100% occupied. So I haven’t started reflections on what’s next.
 
Q8. Associated Press: It's hard to understand how NATO could have no idea whether Israel was responsible or not for the strikes on Syria. I wonder has anyone at NATO, or you personally perhaps been in touch with Israeli officials? Have they confirmed that they're responsible; denied it; or told you that it's none of your business?
 
A8. Secretary General: On intelligence reports, we don't comment as a matter of principle obviously. [Note: Despite a repeated attempt to get an answer as to whether Israel was responsible for the strikes and had there been any contact between NATO and Israel, Rasmussen declined to comment.]
 
Q9. NBC News: What kind of guarantees has NATO given on the Serbia-Kosovo agreement to ensure that it will be properly implemented on the ground?
 
A9. Secretary General: Both parties consider NATO as an impartial guarantor of peace and stability. The assurance we have given is that we will continue to fully implement the United Nations mandate.
 
Q10. Takashi, NHK Broadcasting Corporation: Do you think that this Israel attack might be helpful to end the bloodshed in Syria? Are there any possibilities that NATO may change the course to intervene militarily in that area? 
 
A10. Secretary General: There's no change of NATO's position. [Note: Not surprisingly, given his evasive response earlier, Rasmussen ignored the repeated question about an Israeli attack on Syria.]
 
Q11. Montenegro Media: There are some renewed allegations that Croatia was selling arms to Syrian rebels. Do you have some knowledge on this? Or do you have some comment on this? You said that NATO will do all it can in implementing the Serbia-Kosovo agreement. Do I understand correctly that it means that you are going to go on with everything which is under your mandate? 
 
A11. Secretary General: I don't have any information or comments on the alleged Croatian arms delivery. We will fully implement the mandate on Kosovo.
 
End of Press Conference