EU set to supply lethal weapons to partners, starting with Niger – Borrell

The European Union (EU) is ready to supply lethal weapons to the bloc’s partners, starting with Niger and Somalia, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Tuesday.

Borrell said this at the EEAS Schuman Security and Defence Partnership Forum.

The EU did the same with Ukraine.

“Our partners are increasingly interested in lethal support, yes, what we have done for Ukraine can and will be done for others.

“And the first assistance measure to provide lethal equipment for African partners, Niger and Somalia, will be adopted soon,” the EU chief said.

In February 2022, just a few days after Russia began the war in Ukraine, the EU agreed to provide some €500 million in arms and other aid to the Ukrainian military as it battles Russia’s invasion.

It was a move the bloc described as a “watershed moment” in its history.

The EU’s treaties bar the bloc from using its normal budget to fund operations with military or defense implications.

Under the plans, the EU would use an off-budget so-called “European Peace Facility” financing instrument with a ceiling of 5 billion euros that can be used to provide military aid.

The assistance decision was for “the provision of military equipment, and platforms, designed to deliver lethal force to the Ukrainian Armed Forces”.