Tory MP warns against Macron's 'totally inappropriate and dangerous' EU army dreams

The Tory backbencher and former British army officer said EU leaders’ calls for a European Union army are “potentially dangerous”. When asked by Express.co.uk about Emmanuel Macron’s recent calls for an EU army, Mr Drax said: “It’s totally inappropriate and potentially dangerous because it will undermine NATO. And whenever people say that if it wasn’t for the EU then the Russians will have come across the border. It’s absolutely rubbish.

“Where was the EU when we went to war with Argentina? I was serving at the time in 1982. Where were our so-called allies? You couldn’t see them for dust.

“I reminded a Frenchman recently during the last election campaign who was very much angry at my stance.

“I said ‘what’s the difference between a true friend? Is it someone who stands by you in times of trouble?’.

“He replied ‘yes’ and I said ‘where were we in 1944 on the 6th June?’.

“He immediately said ‘hmm ok’. I said ‘we were right there for you sacrificing American, Canadian, British and many other lives to give you back your freedom and allow you to stand there and shout at me’.”

Plans for a European army faced a huge boost towards the end of January when Mr Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel followed their renewed commitment to a post-war agreement between the two nations.

Mr Macron claimed the renewed alliance will allow Europe to become the “new shield” against the “tumults in the world”.

The French leader argued the two nations’ partnership will provide EU citizens with the “real protection” they need.

Mr Macron has seen his popularity ratings plunge over the past few weeks following months of crippling and sometimes violent demonstrations by anti-government “yellow vest” activists.

The French President, who in May 2017 was elected with 66.1 percent of the votes, now has the approval of only 25 percent of the population, according to a survey carried out by Odoxa and Dentsu Consulting for franceinfo and the Figaro newspaper.

The so-called “gilets jaunes” protests, which started late last year, began as a movement against Mr Macron’s proposed fuel taxes.

However, the movement has even become a wide-ranging anti-establishment platform, with plans to contend in the upcoming European Parliamentary elections.

source: express.co.uk