The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, said on Thursday 6 May, that he hoped an EU military training mission could be launched in Mozambique in the coming months. The country is facing jihadist attacks and has requested EU assistance to address a security situation.
“Work is ongoing for a potential EU training mission. There are a few steps ahead of us, but I hope it will be launched”, he explained at the end of the EU Council of European Defence Ministers, adding that it would be a military mission.
The High Representative said he would ask the European External Action Service to accelerate the work, “because we need to respond with a sense of urgency”. Asked whether such a mission could be set up by the end of the year, Borrell said that if the EU was not able to reach this goal, this would not be a good result. He therefore said that he hopes it will be in place before then.
Mr Borrell said Portugal will provide half the staff if the EU mission is launched and that Lisbon had already sent instructors to the area. “This should be seen as an advance to be integrated into an EU training mission, if we finally reach an agreement”, the High Representative explained, saying that the political will was there. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)