Merkel Supports European Military Consolidation

Infantry soldiers of the Bundeswehr, the German armed forces, take part in a reconassaince mission during Thunder Storm 2018 multinational NATO military exercises on June 7, 2018 near Pabrade, Lithuania. (Getty Images)

 

German chancellor voices approval for French president’s military integration proposal.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel declared on Sunday, June 3, that she held a “positive view” of French President Emmanuel Macron’s proposal for further European military integration.

Macron outlined his plan for a reformed eurozone in a September 2017 speech. He called for a European Union military intervention force with a budget agreed upon by the year 2020. He has been pushing for Germany to come on board with such a plan for a European military unity, stating, “Our ambitions cannot be realized alone. I have said it already several times, they need to be accompanied by Germany’s ambitions.”

EU army? Brussels ‘to set up NEW MILITARY UNIT’ amid growing tensions in Europe

The EU is set to move closer towards military integration (Getty)

 

BRUSSELS bureaucrats are said to be planning to set up a new military unit in a bid to increase greater defence cooperation, according to diplomats.

The division, known as the Military Planning and Conduct Capabilities (MPCC) unit, could be responsible for the EU training missions in African countries including Somalia, Mali and Central African Republic.

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There are early suggestion the MPCC is set to be based in Brussels, the same location as the EU Military Staff (EUMS), who provide military expertise to EU members.

Week in Review: The Iranian Empire Is Back, Europe’s Military, Censoring ‘Fake News,’ and Much More

 

Highlights:

Return of the Iranian Empire

• “For the first time since 625 c.e.,” wrote Hussain Abdul-Hussain for now media, “Iran has restored its control over a contiguous territory that extends from the east of Afghanistan to the Mediterranean coast.”
• The Syrian regime recently announced that Hezbollah will play a lead role in the nation’s military.
• On the other hand, the Iraqi government voted to fully legalize Iranian-sponsored Shiite militias, officially making them a part of the Iraqi government forces.
• Abdul-Hussain continued: “[T]hese militias will control—on Tehran’s behalf—their respective armies and, by extension, the governments behind these armies.”

Turkey opens military base in Qatar

Turkey signed a formal agreement with Qatar on 28 April to form a joint military base in the Gulf country.

The Qatari base will become Turkey’s first foreign military base in the Gulf, with the agreement being signed in Doha by Turkish defence minister Ismet Yilmaz and his Qatari counterpart Khalid bin Mohammad al-Attiyah.

China, Russia increase joint drills as they deepen defence ties to contain US, their mutual foe

China and Russia will increase military exercises to strengthen security and defence cooperation amid growing tensions in the ­disputed South China Sea.

Russian Defence Minister ­Sergey Shoigu unveiled the plan at a meeting with his visiting ­Chinese counterpart Chang ­Wanquan on Wednesday, Tass news agency reported.

World View: Pakistan Asked to Send 30,000 Troops to Saudi Arabia

Is Saudi Arabia possibly getting ready to shield themselves from attack after potentially dropping the US Dollar in oil trading?

There are not too many other explanations as to why the Saudi regime would do this, other than to head off a threat to the leadership. Iran, while not allies with the Saudis, have very little motive for invading. The only real power in the world with the ability or possible need to overthrow the government for regime change would be the United States.

Before the second Iraq war took place, Saddam Hussein threatened to drop the petrodollar. Dropping the Dollar from oil trade would collapse the economy. Not just from one nation alone, but more would likely follow if one could get away with it.

Pakistan asked to send 30,000 troops to Saudi Arabia

Reports out of Pakistan indicate that Saudi Arabia has asked Pakistan to dispatch 30,000 troops to the Kingdom as part of a bilateral defense agreement that’s currently being formulated in a flurry of visits and meetings between defense and military officials from the two countries. Pakistan’s prime minister Nawaz Sharif said:

“In view of current challenges, there is a need to further strengthen defense cooperation between the two countries and a new era of strategic relationship needs to start.”