Forces: January 7, 2001

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The European Union has succeeded in gathering a considerable number of assets for its new Rapid Reaction Force, but key capabilities are missing. There are more than enough troops (about 100,000) but not nearly enough support, transportation, and command elements, which would have to be borrowed from NATO. Also, most of the troops are also committed to NATO, which technically places the countries involved in a position from which they could honor one treaty but not both. 

@ Britain pledged an armored brigade, a marine brigade, 72 combat aircraft, an aircraft carrier, two nuclear submarines, four surface warships, and five support and amphibious ships.

@ France pledged 12,000 troops including a tank brigade and an engineer brigade, 75 combat aircraft, the new aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, and 11 other warships. 

@ Germany pledged 13,500 troops

@ Italy 6,000 troops 

@ Spain 6,000 troops

@ Netherlands 5,000 troops

@ Greece 3,500 troops

@ Austria 2,000 troops 

@ Finland 2,000 troops

@ Sweden 1,500

@ Belgium 1,000 troops

@ Ireland 1,000 troops

@Portugal 1,000 troops

@ Luxembourg 100 troops. 

Denmark was the only EU country to refuse to join. Turkey, which isn't in the EU but wants to be, offered a mechanized brigade and two squadrons of F-16s.--Stephen V Cole

 


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