The European Union (EU) has announced that it is prepared to supply lethal weapons to its partners, beginning with Niger and Somalia, according to EU foreign policy chief. Joseph Borrell.
Speaking at the EEAS Schuman Security and
Defence Partnership Forum, Borrell stated that the EU's partners have shown
increasing interest in lethal support, citing the example of Ukraine, to whom
the EU agreed to provide €500 million in arms and other aid in February 2022.
This decision was made shortly after Russia began its invasion of Ukraine,
which the EU described as a "watershed moment" in its history.
The EU is
not permitted to use its normal budget to fund military or defense operations
under its treaties. Instead, it will use an off-budget financing instrument
called the "European Peace Facility," which has a ceiling of 5
billion euros and can be used to provide military aid. The EU's decision to
provide lethal equipment and platforms to deliver lethal force to the Ukrainian
Armed Forces was made under this framework.
Borrell
stated that the first assistance measure to provide lethal equipment to African
partners Niger and Somalia will be adopted soon. This move demonstrates the
EU's commitment to supporting its partners in areas of conflict and
instability.
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