Pictures taken during what was described as the European Union’s “first-ever joint live military exercise” have been shared on social media by the bloc’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell.
Tory MP David Jones has described as “extraordinary” the decision to stage military drills at a time when tensions are soaring in the Middle East, as well as the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Mr Borrell shared the photographs, taken at the start of the week-long exercises in Spain as part of the bloc’s Strategic Compass initiative aimed at developing what it terms a Rapid Deployment Capacity, on X, formerly Twitter.
He commented: “2,800 troops. 31 military units. 19 EU Member States.
“We are holding the first-ever joint live EU military exercise.
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“We are taking another step to make the EU fit to address today’s crises and threats – building a security & defence policy fit for the future.”
Speaking to reporters aboard the Juan Carlos I amphibious assault ship in Cadiz, he said: “Today we are creating a new page in the EU defence.
“As the EU, we need to be ready to act as required to protect our citizens and to contribute to global stability. And for that, we need to exercise together.
“This will help us to be better prepared to play a role as a defence actor and global security provider.”
However, Clwyd West MP David Jones, a prominent Brexiteer and a member of the European Research Group (ERG), was far from convinced.
He told Express.co.uk: “They seem to have more flags than soldiers!
“At a time when there is huge tension in the Middle East and a full-scale war in Ukraine, it is extraordinary that the EU sees fit to hold an exercise with a relatively small number of troops and for Mr Borrell to crow about it.”
Mr Jones also pointed out that most European nations were already signed up to a world-class military alliance.
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He explained: “Europe’s security rests firmly with NATO.
“It has been the guarantor of peace since the Second World War and nothing should be done to undermine it, which is precisely what an EU army does.”
Also posting on X, Ben Habib, a former Brexit Party MEP, who has frequently voiced his concerns about the bloc’s military ambitions, said: “Did Remainers not say an EU army was a scare story put about by Brexiteers?
“Nation states in Europe are being hollowed out. Once proud countries are a shadow of their former selves.
“Out of them is emerging an anti-democratic European superstate, army and all.”
Speaking on his GB News show, former Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage said: “Remember Nick Clegg said I was a dangerous fantasist for suggesting there could be an EU army?
“Well, as we speak, 2,800 personnel are involved in an amphibious landing mission.
“There we are Mr Clegg, eat your heart out. If that’s not an EU army I don’t know what is.”
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