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Britain and France should lead new European NATO without help from the US, says ex-chief
The Daily Mail ^ | 25 Apr 2026 | CAITLIN LENG

Posted on 04/25/2026 7:29:10 AM PDT by MinorityRepublican

Britain and France should lead a new 'European Nato' to take responsibility for Europe's defence without help from the United States, an ex-Nato chief has said.

Anders Fogh Rasmussen, the organisation's secretary-general from 2009 to 2014, said a new security architecture was needed after Donald Trump threatened to withdraw from Nato.

Mr Rasmussen has suggested expanding the Coalition of the Willing - an alliance of 35 countries set up to defend Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire - so it can take over Europe's conventional defence role.

He identified France and Britain as the leading members of an expanded alliance, citing their nuclear capabilities as a key factor.

At present, the coalition is headquartered in Paris, with plans to relocate to London after its first 12 months of operation.

Mr Rusmussen's comments come following President Trump's expression of 'doubts' about his commitment to Nato and Article 5 - the mutual defence clause stating that an attack on one member is an attack on all - the European pillar of Nato must be strengthened.

The coalition, including Kyiv, is currently preparing a post-war deployment intended to deter further Russian aggression against Ukraine.

(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.com ...


TOPICS: European Union; France; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS:
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1 posted on 04/25/2026 7:29:10 AM PDT by MinorityRepublican
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To: MinorityRepublican

BWAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHA, JOKE!


2 posted on 04/25/2026 7:37:09 AM PDT by traderrob6
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To: MinorityRepublican

Yeah. Do that.


3 posted on 04/25/2026 7:40:14 AM PDT by Mathews (I have faith Malachi is right!!! Any day now...)
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To: MinorityRepublican

Britain lead? What are they supposed to lead? They have one operational ship. The rest of their Navy is barely able to sail the high seas.

France is not much better. They have nuclear weapons but VERY limited conventional capabilities.

Both countries have already been taken over by the mullahs. Just look at London and Paris. Only thing missing is the camels. /spit


4 posted on 04/25/2026 7:42:58 AM PDT by Flavious_Maximus (Tony Fauci will be put on death row and die of COVID!)
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To: MinorityRepublican

It’s like the retards jumped off the short bus with the goal of forming their own school.


5 posted on 04/25/2026 7:44:44 AM PDT by wildcard_redneck ( Neocons in love with the Ukraine War hate how long the Iran War is taking..........)
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To: MinorityRepublican

Britain really doesn’t have anything to add to a defense coalition. No functional navy, a limited air force 47 F-35B, and probably around 70 or so operational Typhoons. and no significant ground force (around 20,000 combat troops, around 50,000 rear echelon.)


6 posted on 04/25/2026 7:51:52 AM PDT by PAR35
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To: wildcard_redneck

Good-by Europe!


7 posted on 04/25/2026 7:52:36 AM PDT by dvan34 (Make California great Again- Vote GOP! )
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To: Flavious_Maximus

> Britain lead? What are they supposed to lead? <

Mark Felton did a series of YouTube videos on the pathetic state of the UK military.

The UK now has more admiral than warships.
https://youtu.be/po9duwvipB0?si=FnQvDHQW6vzIdYbg

And more horses than main battle tanks.
https://youtu.be/e4TmtkjcY9A?si=DONhIz1UjQFbFoqh

It’s a shame Monty Python is no longer active. They could have had a lot of fun with this.


8 posted on 04/25/2026 7:54:06 AM PDT by Leaning Right
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To: PAR35
No functional navy, a limited air force 47 F-35B, and probably around 70 or so operational Typhoons. and no significant ground force (around 20,000 combat troops, around 50,000 rear echelon.)

Really? I didn't know it was THAT bad.

9 posted on 04/25/2026 7:56:36 AM PDT by libertylover (The HBM (Has Been Media) is almost all AGENDA-DRIVEN and HATE-DRIVEN, not-truth driven.)
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To: MinorityRepublican

Yep , NATO would be DEAD Jim


10 posted on 04/25/2026 8:02:49 AM PDT by butlerweave (Fateh)
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To: MinorityRepublican

Sounds like a great idea. Britain can hire tug boats to get their navy to a conflict and France can supply the white flags. /s/

I see the potential for NATO to start collapsing from within.


11 posted on 04/25/2026 8:05:53 AM PDT by redfreedom (The Forth Estate is the Fifth Column.)
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To: MinorityRepublican

Then Germany and Italy can be the axis powers?


12 posted on 04/25/2026 8:06:44 AM PDT by txroadhawg ("To compare Congress to drunken sailors is an insult to drunken sailors." Ronald Reagan)
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To: MinorityRepublican

“He identified France and Britain as the leading members of an expanded alliance, citing their nuclear capabilities as a key factor.”

That’s the scary part. Imagine the muzzie hordes out voting the British and French and gaining control of their nukes.


13 posted on 04/25/2026 8:10:32 AM PDT by redfreedom (The Forth Estate is the Fifth Column.)
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To: MinorityRepublican

Going to be hard to lead while in a demographic death spiral into dhimmitude.


14 posted on 04/25/2026 8:21:02 AM PDT by katana
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To: MinorityRepublican
"Rather than guaranteeing the rules-based world order, the US is turning predator. So what Canada needs to do is work closely with our democratic allies, our military allies. I've been Foreign Minister. I know how to do that. I would start with our Nordic partners, specifically Denmark, which is also being threatened, and our NATO European allies. I would be sure that France and Britain were there who possess nuclear weapons and I will be working urgently with these partners to build a closer security relationship that guarantees our security in a time when United States can be a threat. I would also reach out to our Asian democratic partners, Japan, South Korea, Australia," -- Chrystia Freeland, fromer Canadian Finance Minister, WEF board member, and now working for Zelensky
15 posted on 04/25/2026 8:23:21 AM PDT by Tench_Coxe (The woke were surprised by the reaction to the Bud Light fiasco. May there be many more surprises)
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To: MinorityRepublican

Yea, right, the incapable (U.K.) and the unwilling (France) minus the chief industrialist (Germany) should lead a Europe-only “NATO”?

Upon their first major engagement such an outfit should simply surrender.


16 posted on 04/25/2026 8:24:28 AM PDT by Wuli ( )
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To: Mathews

Money talks, BS walks.


17 posted on 04/25/2026 8:30:43 AM PDT by Huskrrrr (Alinsky, you magnificent Bastard, I read your book!)
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To: MinorityRepublican

Sounds like a great idea to me!


18 posted on 04/25/2026 8:35:24 AM PDT by TheDon (Remember the J6 political prisoners! Remember Ashli Babbitt!)
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To: Flavious_Maximus

Collectively, the Europeans, including the non-NATO countries, have military that can easily handle Russia and come easily on top, if war became necessary. War is not just about weapons, it’s also about economies, and the total GDP of Europe makes Russia seem minuscule in comparison.

And if conventional forces were to be compared, Europe can match anything Russia can throw at them, with jet-p;anes and tanks and whatever else is needed.

The UK and French navies and the navies of other Europeans, won’t be an issue, not against Russia which has virtually no navy and has had to pull them out from the waters near Ukraine, which has destroyed anything from Russia that floats and could be reached by missiles and drones.


19 posted on 04/25/2026 8:40:04 AM PDT by adorno ( )
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To: PAR35

There is an even greater lack in airlift capacity for moving troops, equipment supplies, refueling planes, AWACS, etc. Same with helicopters, missiles, anti-missile/aircraft systems, space-based guidance and surveillance systems, satellites, etc. British and French troops are great — they just lack numbers and resources. Where the money to catch up would come from is a mystery. Perhaps they think drones will bail them out on the cheap.

Germany recently announced intentions to have the largest military in Europe (by 2039!) — I presume this notion of British/French leadership is a response to that.


20 posted on 04/25/2026 8:43:01 AM PDT by Chewbarkah
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