23 EU countries agree to create military alliance.

Twenty-three of the 28 member countries of the European Union (EU) agreed to significantly expand their military cooperation; the bloc's foreign and defense ministers signed a document in Brussels that is expected to lay the groundwork for a future European defense union; "It is important for us to take an independent stance, [especially] after the election of the US president (Donald Trump). That way, if there is a crisis in our neighborhood, we must be able to act," said German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen.

November 13, 2017, 15:55 PMUpdated June 27, 2018, 08:58 pm

Twenty-three of the 28 member countries of the European Union (EU) agreed to significantly expand their military cooperation; the bloc's foreign and defense ministers signed a document in Brussels that should lay the groundwork for a future European defense union; "It is important for us to take an independent stance, [especially] after the election of the US president (Donald Trump). That way, if there is a crisis in our neighborhood, we must be able to act," said German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen (Photo: Paulo Emílio).

Brazil Agency - Twenty-three of the 28 member countries of the European Union (EU) agreed today (13) to significantly expand their military cooperation. The bloc's Foreign and Defence Ministers signed a document in Brussels that should lay the groundwork for a future European defence union. The information is from the German agency DPA.

According to the leaders, the decision to create a European defense union aims to make the EU less dependent on the United States and strengthen cooperation between European partners on military projects.

"It is important for us to take an independent stance, [especially] after the election of the US president (Donald Trump). That way, if there is a crisis in our neighborhood, we must be able to act," said German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen.

German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel described the union as a "milestone in European development." He emphasized that the planned cooperation is "a major step towards independence and strengthening the EU's security and defense policy."

Joint military projects

By signing the document, the 23 European countries also committed to respecting 20 specific conditions for their participation in the future defense union, including a periodic increase in military spending, participation in joint military projects, and the contribution of soldiers to the EU's rapid reaction forces.

These latter groups were created in 2007, under the name Combat Groups, but so far they have never been involved in action.

Among the countries that will not participate in the new military cooperation project are the United Kingdom and Denmark. The United Kingdom because it intends to leave the EU in 2019, and Denmark does not participate in the common European security and defense policy. The remaining three EU partners that did not sign – Ireland, Malta, and Portugal – have not yet decided whether or not they will participate in the military union.

Officially, the new project, called "structured permanent cooperation," is scheduled to begin in December. The first concrete projects to be implemented will likely involve the creation of a European health command and logistical hubs for the transport of troops and equipment.