Defence Secretary John Hutton's decision to back French plans for the creation of a European Union Army is a huge strategic error of judgment, and represents yet another surrender of British sovereignty to Brussels by the Brown government. By doing so, Hutton is playing directly into the hands of Nicolas Sarkozy, who is using his presidency of the EU to advance French plans for a separate European defence identity within NATO.
Hutton's move will weaken Britain's capacity to fight in Afghanistan (where the U.S. and UK are bearing a huge proportion of the burden), undermine the NATO Alliance, and strengthen the power of Brussels in military matters. This is an extraordinarily bad deal for Britain and a strategic victory for the French government and all who believe in the creation of a European superstate.
