Why is British public opinion leaning further towards a Euro defence pact rather than NATO?

Question

Why is British public opinion leaning further towards a Euro defence pact rather than NATO?

Europe has the technology ( F35 part designed and funded by Europe` Euro fighter and Euro-copter ` Chobham Armour solely designed in Europe and used by the Abrams tank) and man power` especially after learning the lessons of downgrading after WW1.

So why not?

Answer 1

Because it is pretty obvious that NATO is virtually useless.  A Euro defense pact that does not include the US would require that the European nations take defense matters seriously and only accept members who are willing to carry their fair share of the load.

Currently the only real military forces in NATO are the US and British.  For the rest of the NATO nations their military is little more than a jobs program.

Answer 2

Because NATO has infringed on roles beyond to what it was intended for. Remember that NATO was originally established during the Cold War period as a military alliance solely intended for Pan-European defense roles. Many NATO member nations wanted to keep it that way. For example, many NATO members were critical of NATO's military involvement in Afghanistan. They felt that NATO should never had intervened in that region (Afghanistan being a part of Asia). Many NATO member nations don't want NATO involvement to any regional conflicts outside of Europe.

Answer 3

I think everyone just wants a break from our culture being saturated with American stuff, and the euro option would probably go some way towards that.

Answer 4

I suspect it's because the British are as fed up with the inability of its continental NATO members to develop heavy lift capability by sea and air and to develop robust aerial forces. The Kosovo campaign featured a classic example of that lubberly attitude. Over 90% of the air missions were flow by British, U.S. and Canadian war planes. Afghanistan is an example of their avoiding troop placements in the areas of highest danger.

Personally I would like to see those three nations cast their lot with Australia and New Zealand in a new pact called the English Lands Military Agreement (ELMA). For Britain to rely on some sort of credible force issuing forth from the bureaucratic bumblers of Brussels and Strasbourg is to live in a fool's paradise.