I cannot see it as other than a distraction from NATO, and the comment about the economic focus of NATO seems bizarre.
It also seems strange to see it described as an “EU olive branch” when the membership seeks limited precisely, as stated, to bypass the EU and certain members.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-ne...-new-security/
EU hands Britain post-Brexit olive branch – an offer to lead new security council
European leaders are planning to ask Britain to head up a new security organisation to counter future geopolitical challenges, in a move to put post-Brexit tensions behind them.
Proposals for a “European Security Council” are being drawn up by Germany, the Netherlands and Poland in order to bring “Britain back into the fold” of major foreign policy discussions outside the confines of the European Union.
The influential EU capitals believe it is now time to end years of bitterness after Brexit and forge new ties based on security and global co-operation, all to ensure Europe is better positioned to tackle world crises, in areas such as the Ukraine crisis and future pandemics.
A group of countries are already urging Olaf Scholz, the German chancellor, to personally reach out to Boris Johnson to “bring Britain back into the fold”. Berlin is considered to have enough political heft to ensure the proposals, which are still in their early stages, have maximum impact……
Eastern countries, including Poland and those in the Baltics, are keen to forge closer relations because they still trust London more than Brussels, Paris or Berlin as the leading guarantor of European security.
Membership of the European Security Council would be judged on strict criteria, with levels of defence spending being included in early considerations.
Initial discussions have put an emphasis on not including all of the EU’s 27 members over concerns that the body could be seen as an extension of the bloc and that it could also become a dysfunctional talking shop.
France was said to be opposed to the plan because Emmanuel Macron still has a “chip on his shoulder” over Brexit and the
and the AUKUS defence pact between the UK, US and Australia, which cost Paris a lucrative contract to build submarines…….
While it is acknowledged across Europe that Britain is a steadfast backer of the G7, G20 and Nato formats for foreign policy discussions, Eastern states such as Poland feel excluded by their economic focuses.….
Mr Johnson will likely be offered the first rotating presidency of the new organisation as an olive branch to convince the Prime Minister to come on board with the plans.
Other non-EU members, including Norway and western Balkan states, would also likely be offered an opportunity to join the intergovernmental organisation.