Franco-German treaty: An Alternative to NATO, a Warning to US - COMMENT

Baku. 23 January. REPORT.AZ/ Two European countries - Germany and France – yesterday signed a very important document on cooperation. French president Emmanuel Macron and German chancellor Angela Merkel will meet on Tuesday morning in the coronation room of the town hall in the German city of Aachen to sign a new “Treaty of Franco-German Co-operation and Integration”. In fact, 56 years ago the same treaty then called the Treaty of the Élysée was signed between Charles de Gaulle and Konrad Adenauer . The document was the cornerstone of reconciliation between the two countries after the Second World War. The main focus in the Aachen treaty is laid to cooperation in security. Germany and France have assumed to provide each other with any kinds of mutual assistance during military aggression, including war. The sides agreed to deepen cooperation in 15 areas. The document notes that the time has come for France and Germany to prepare for the challenges facing Europe and the two states in the 21st century and to raise bilateral relations to a new level. The contract reflects the world commitment to the new order and pluralism. The agreement reflects key aspects of the joint diplomatic activity in the permanent accession of Germany to the UN Security Council.

But what is happening? Are the obligations within one alliance not enough for Germany and France? Why do they lower the issue of security from the European Union down to the level of two states? Will Germany and France not help the EU member-states subjected to aggression as a result of military intervention?

As is known, the European Union is a political and economic union, consisting of 28 member states that assume the obligations and enjoy privileges of membership. The Treaty of Paris (formally the Treaty establishing the European Coal and Steel Community) signed on 18 April 1951 between France, West Germany, Italy and the three Benelux countries (Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands), establishing the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), which subsequently became part of the European Union.

On November 1, 1993, the name of the organization was changed, and subsequent documents were signed on the expansion of its activity. By the way, this process took place after the complete collapse of the USSR. It could also have been an indicator of the goals of the Alliance. For example, the neighborhood policy also served it. After the USSR collapse, EU began to expand towards the east. The process continues now. There is no border within the EU. This Alliance has a common foreign and security policy. The member-states even refused from national currency. These actions of Germany and France can be compared to separatism nowadays.

An agreement on security is a serious matter. It should be reminded that Europe has faced many challenges in the area of general and security policy. For the first time in 1952, Germany, Belgium, Italy, France, the Netherlands and Luxembourg signed a contract for the establishment of the European Defense Society. However, since the French parliament did not approve the agreement, the process was incomplete.

Therefore, integration within the Alliance has evolved from economics to politics. Many of the alliance member-states have not faced serious concerns about security and defense since they are NATO members. Countries such as Switzerland, Austria, Finland, Sweden, Bosnia and Herzegovina, who are members of the Alliance, are not represented in NATO. US meets nearly 70 percent of NATO expenses. So, up to this day US still ensures Europe's security through NATO, including Germany and France. Donald Trump has been paying a great attention to this issue after being elected the US President. Last summer, he sent a letter to his allies in Europe (presidents of Germany, Belgium, Norway, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Luxembourg, Canada and Italy) requesting funding. So last year, after moving US embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, there was a disagreement between the States and the leading European Union. Later on, US President Donald Tramp has introduced an additional customs duty on imported goods from EU countries. In July last year, Donald Trump signed a 20-25% additional customs duty on imported cars from the Union. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said duties imposed by the US on the EU go against "all logic and history".

Addressing the Irish parliament in Dublin, he added that "we will do what we have to do to rebalance and safeguard" the EU.

Undoubtedly, the European Union is the main supporter of US. From this point of view, Americans do not seem to be interested in creating tensions with the Alliance. Some time ago, Donald Tramp's statement on his country's withdrawal from NATO caused concern. The US House of Representatives passed a bill aimed at preventing President Donald Trump from withdrawing the country from NATO, but called on the European allies to pay their dues. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg warned him that it is not "an option" for Europe and the United States. He said the West faces a major security problem. During his presidential campaign Donald Trump said NATO is obsolete. He suggested that the US should think twice before assisting any Nato ally under attack if it had not paid its dues. However, Stoltenberg agreed with Trump's view that other member-states had to make more financial contribution. According to him, American leaders have always admitted that they have deep strategic interests in a stable and secure Europe: “We need the strong US administration and the Europeans who share this burden. Getting alone is not an option either for Europe or US. We now face the biggest problems with security. Now it is not time to challenge the importance of partnership between Europe and US.”

It now turns out that Germany and France have signed a bilateral agreement on this issue in order to get rid of dependence from the US on security issues.

They do not conceal the fact that they have laid the basis for the creation of the European army by the treaty they signed on January 22. The treaty between the two countries was discussed even when Brexit was on the agenda. The British Parliament will again discuss Brexit on January 29. It is possible to regard it as a message to Britain. If the European army is formed, there would be no need for NATO. More precisely, the Alliance's activity on this continent can be limited. That is why the Congress has stated that it will continue its cooperation with the Alliance countries by adopting the mentioned bill. It can also be assumed that the countries included in the Alliance will also sign bilateral agreements. This can shatter the perspective of the organization, which can lead to its collapse.

By the way, Italian deputy prime minister Luigi di Maio suggesting putting sanctions on France for its policy of colonialism in Africa.

As a result of being downtrodden, Africans are trying to cross the Mediterranean to Europe, and dying in the attempt, said the head of the populist Five Star movement.

“If today we have people who are leaving Africa, it’s because certain European countries, France in particular, have never stopped colonising Africa,” he claimed. Speaking on Italian radio Monday morning, he said: "France is one of those countries that by printing money for 14 states prevents development and contributes to the departure of refugees."

It seems that after Brexit, serious problems will arise in the Union. Aachen treaty, signed between Berlin and Paris, can be considered a basis for that.

And the propaganda for Germany's accession to the UN Security Council serves this purpose. It can be assumed that Berlin and Paris intend to represent the Federal Republic along with France, thus achieving advantage in the organization. Thus, Germany and France gave a new message to US, EU countries and NATO with their Aachen treaty