MPs warn government about EU army

       Brexiteers have raised concerns that the EU is trying to become a nuclear weapons power and intends to drag Britain into its plot.

       Alarm bells rang when German general Klaus Naumann, French admiral Jacques Lanxade, former Labour UK Europe minister Denis MacShane and German former senior foreign policy adviser Margarita Mathiopoulos jointly authored an article for the Atlantic Council calling for a European nuclear deterrent.

       The article suggested that the UK, France and Germany should get together to provide a Europe-wide nuclear deterrent in the face of threats from Russia.

       It comes amid growing concerns that the EU is trying to suck Britain back into plans for an EU army through its Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) initiatives.

       There are also worries over reports that President Joe Biden wants European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to be the next NATO General Secretary.

       READ MORE: EU army is a ‘joke’ - Brussels' defence unfit to act against Russia

       Mark Francois is the ERG chairman (Image: Getty)

       Ms von der Leyen is a former German defence minister who has pushed strongly for an EU army.

       The article said: "The war in Ukraine exposed bluntly once more the appalling state of European defence capabilities—as seen in former Yugoslav republics in the late 1990s—and how Europe still depends on the United States to fight a war on its own continent.

       "To stay safe against Russian and other aggression in the future, Europe will need a convincing conventional and nuclear deterrent of its own, and Germany will be key. The invasion of February 24, 2022 opened many eyes, but the biggest awakening took place in Germany."

       The four said that the war in Ukraine made it clear Germany needs to play a more significant role in NATO which means it needs a nuclear deterrent.

       But they conceded that since the Second World War, this has been a "taboo" subject in Germany.

       Don't miss...

       Lord Heseltine was humiliated on Brexit by a former Australian Prime Minister [REVEAL]

       Mega Brexit trade deal to 'slam door shut' on hopes to EU rejoin [INSIGHT]

       Fears Labour to declare war on motorists in plot to hike taxes and ban new roads [REACT]

       Ursula von der Leyen wants an EU army (Image: Getty)

       SUBSCRIBE Invalid email

       We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info

       SUBSCRIBE Invalid email

       We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info

       SUBSCRIBE Invalid email

       UK defence: Tom Tugendhat and Penny Mordaunt tipped to succeed Ben Wallace as defence secretary

       Tom Tugendhat and Penny Mordaunt are among names who have been tipped to succeed Ben Wallace as defence secretary.

       Mr Wallace over the weekend announced plans to resign at the next Cabinet reshuffle and stand down as an MP at the next general election.

       But they concluded: "This, then, is the moment to start a debate in Berlin, Paris, and London about a trilateral French, British, and German nuclear European Defense Initiative, and the responsibility of those three powers to protect Europe if Article 5 is invoked in a worst-case-scenario."

       Brexiteers believe the article was a deliberate attempt to float an idea which has long been under consideration in Brussels, Berlin and Paris.

       European Research Group chairman Mark Francois, a former UK Armed Forces Minister, described the plan as "breathtakingly arrogant."

       He said: "The EU already has a flag, an anthem, a currency, a Parliament, a civil service, a border force - and now they want the bomb as well!

       "Even more, some of them would quite like our bomb, without of course paying a penny towards it. The arrogance of these people is just breathtaking.”

       UK defence: Tom Tugendhat and Penny Mordaunt tipped to succeed Ben Wallace as defence secretary

       Tom Tugendhat and Penny Mordaunt are among names who have been tipped to succeed Ben Wallace as defence secretary.

       Mr Wallace over the weekend announced plans to resign at the next Cabinet reshuffle and stand down as an MP at the next general election.

       Tom Tugendhat and Penny Mordaunt are among names who have been tipped to succeed Ben Wallace as defence secretary.

       Mr Wallace over the weekend announced plans to resign at the next Cabinet reshuffle and stand down as an MP at the next general election.

       But they concluded: "This, then, is the moment to start a debate in Berlin, Paris, and London about a trilateral French, British, and German nuclear European Defense Initiative, and the responsibility of those three powers to protect Europe if Article 5 is invoked in a worst-case-scenario."

       Brexiteers believe the article was a deliberate attempt to float an idea which has long been under consideration in Brussels, Berlin and Paris.

       European Research Group chairman Mark Francois, a former UK Armed Forces Minister, described the plan as "breathtakingly arrogant."

       He said: "The EU already has a flag, an anthem, a currency, a Parliament, a civil service, a border force - and now they want the bomb as well!

       "Even more, some of them would quite like our bomb, without of course paying a penny towards it. The arrogance of these people is just breathtaking.”

       But they concluded: "This, then, is the moment to start a debate in Berlin, Paris, and London about a trilateral French, British, and German nuclear European Defense Initiative, and the responsibility of those three powers to protect Europe if Article 5 is invoked in a worst-case-scenario."

       Brexiteers believe the article was a deliberate attempt to float an idea which has long been under consideration in Brussels, Berlin and Paris.

       European Research Group chairman Mark Francois, a former UK Armed Forces Minister, described the plan as "breathtakingly arrogant."

       He said: "The EU already has a flag, an anthem, a currency, a Parliament, a civil service, a border force - and now they want the bomb as well!

       "Even more, some of them would quite like our bomb, without of course paying a penny towards it. The arrogance of these people is just breathtaking.”

       Trending

       ERG deputy chairman and former Brexit Minister David Jones also warned against the plans.

       He told Express.co.uk: "Britain has its own independent nuclear deterrent and should not surrender it.

       "If our experience of leaving the EU has taught us anything, it should be that in an increasingly dangerous world, we should not be relying on the support of countries that have been so obstructive to the realisation of the will of the British people."

       Last month defence ministers refused to rule out further integration with EU armed forces when questioned about them in the Commons.

       Related articles Forget Brexit now it's Czechxit as Czech Republic falls out of love with EU Mercer pays gushing tribute to wife after 'brutal week' with Vorderman spat Commons investigators close probe into shamed MP David Warburton Starmer blasted for backing policy his own spokesman slammed as 'heinous' Yvette Cooper put on spot by GMB's Susanna Reid over 'another U-turn' by Starmer