CBC, BRUSSELS – Britain found itself caught between its two major alliances on Friday, having to stand up for NATO at a summit on European defence.
European Union leaders were in Brussels to discuss plans to forge a new constitution that would establish an integrated European defence system.
That worries Washington, which fears a new European defence pact would weaken the 54-year-old NATO alliance. That's something British Prime Minister Tony Blair says he won't allow to happen.
“I will never put at risk NATO. And I think in the last year it would be impossible to accuse me of being anything other than a staunch ally and friend of the United States,” he said. “But I believe Britain has to be strong in Europe, and strong with America.”
The U.S. is worried specifically about four countries: France, Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg.
They're pushing for a central European military planning headquarters independent of NATO to command European forces on European missions.
The military commander in NATO has always been an American general.
The four countries also want a mutual defence clause stating that if one European country is attacked, it's an attack on the whole EU.
French President Jacques Chirac made it clear that while some progress has been made at these talks, there are still differences.
But he added that he's determined to go ahead with the integration.
