NEWS ANALYSIS: Brexit complicates landmark EU and Nato defence strategy
BRITAIN’s departure from the EU (Brexit) risks undermining Europe’s new defence strategy, days before Nato and EU governments sign a landmark pact to confront a range of threats from Russia to the Mediterranean, officials say.The EU and the US plan to use two separate EU and Nato summits to push reforms of the West’s two main security pillars, aimed at reducing Europe’s reliance on Washington in its own neighbourhood."Things are going to be a lot harder," said a senior western defence official involved in EU-Nato co-operation. "Nato planned on linking itself up to a stronger EU, not being the default option for a weakened, divided bloc."Facing a more aggressive Russia, a migrant crisis and failing states on its borders, the EU needs to "act autonomously if and when necessary", EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini will tell EU leaders as she unveils a five-year global strategy plan.That symbolic step, which urges governments to co-ordinate defence spending, has strong support f...
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