EU and NATO: Interlocking or Interblocking?

EU and NATO: Interlocking or Interblocking?

With many of the world's navies engaged in anti-pirate patrols off the coastal waters of Somalia, it's no surprise to find French, German and Spanish frigates among them. The frigates are there, though, not under their respective national commands, but rather under that of a joint EU naval force, whose mission is to protect World Food Program vessels delivering food aid to Somalia, as well as commercial and other vessels threatened by pirates in the Gulf of Aden.

While EU NAVFOR Somalia is the EU's first maritime operation, it is not its first military operation, whether in Africa or beyond.

The EU might lack major permanent military capabilities and assets, not to mention a strictly unified foreign policy. It has also yet to formulate clear agreements for joint operations with other military organizations, most notably NATO.

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