The Franco-German couple is reeling again. United by a marriage of convenience for decades, these two countries that form the basis of Europe can no longer find the necessary fuel to move forward together. Germany decided this Wednesday to postpone until January the Franco-German Council of Ministers that was going to be held on October 26 in Fontainebleau.
Behind the diplomatic reason put forward by Germany, in this case “logistical difficulties” for certain ministers, this discord is based on deep discrepancies on European defense. This time, it’s much more than just another domestic scene, as there have been others with, in particular, the aerial combat system of the future.
A circle of 14 countries without France
Germany has decided to place itself at the center of European defense by ruthlessly pushing France. Berlin has brought together 14 NATO member countries for the joint procurement of anti-aircraft and anti-missile defense equipment as part of an initiative called “European sky shield”. France will not be part of this new circle which, to protect itself, will rely a little on the German Iris-T systems and mainly on the Israeli Arrow 3.
Developed by the Israeli IAI with American Boeing, Arrow 3 is capable of intercepting ballistic missiles at altitudes of more than 100 kilometers and with a range of up to 2,400 kilometers. Berlin requires that it be operational from 2025 in three locations in Germany to protect its territory, but also Poland, Romania and the Baltic countries that could share the costs of this device, whose amount amounts to 2,000 million euros.
At the moment nothing is done. Washington is slow to validate the contract for this system equipped with American technologies. According to the Israeli press, the United States was trying to sell Germany a competitor system to the Arrow 3, Lockheed Martin’s THAAD. Be that as it may, no European device has been retained by Berlin.
industrial precedent
This European shield is perceived as a new blow to European unity in terms of armaments. Before there was the F-35 contract to the detriment of a European solution, the choice of the GE engine for the Airbus Eurodrone instead of the Safran one, then the contract with Boeing for five P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol boats thus giving rise to the MAWS program with France.
On scaffolding program or the tank of the future MGCS (Main Ground Combat System) that should replace the Leclerc and the Leopard in 2035, there is still uncertainty. Berlin assures that these projects will be carried out, but the German General Staff does not seem to agree. On September 12, General Eberhard Zorn, Chief of Staff of the Bundeswehr, sent a chill with a shocking statement to the DGAP [Conseil allemand des relations étrangères].
“I want materials that fly, that propel and that are available on the market. No development of European solutions that, in the end, do not work. I will not cite examples here. It would almost be a denigration of the companies”, launched General. Eberhard Zorn, pointing to both Scaf and MGCS.
Source: BFM TV
