Dutch and French ministers differ on role of NATO

BRUSSELS - Dutch Defense Minister Kamp recently took exception to statements made by his French colleague Alliot-Marie who believes that the European Union is the most important organization to guarantee security in Europe. Kamp favours cooperation through NATO in order to secure the involvement of the U.S. and Canada. France and Belgium want to rapidly expand the EU’s own military power, at the expense of NATO. Kamp points to successful, earlier NATO military operations and peacekeeping tasks.