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Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright Statement "United States Backs European Rapid Reaction Force" November 20, 2000, Washington, D.C. As released by the Office of the Spokesman U.S. Department of State |
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SECRETARY ALBRIGHT: Today's conference in Brussels pledging national troops to a European rapid reaction force is a strongly positive development we wholly support. We welcome today's European Union's Capabilities Commitment Conference as a first step towards making the Headline Goal of a European rapid reaction force a reality and getting the European Security and Defense Identity right. We, along with the other Allies, are working closely with the European Union to make this initiative a success and to create a true strategic partnership between two key Western institutions -- NATO and the European Union. Creation of this capability promises to improve Europe's ability to act in ways that will strengthen European and transatlantic security. It is a key feature of the European Security and Defense Identity, a NATO initiative that the U.S. has supported wholeheartedly. This EU force will be available to both NATO and the EU, in those cases where the Alliance as a whole is not militarily engaged. It offers a valuable complement to the efforts and capabilities of NATO.
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