The European Union made history last week as it deployed troops beyond its continent for the first time. At the request of the United Nations, the EU force arrived in Congo to support the peacekeeping mission Operation Artemis. Prior to this, the only other EU military operation was in Macedonia, which received significant support from NATO. A French general who still reports to Paris commands this current force, but all strategic direction comes from Brussels. His men wear blue and yellow EU insignias on their national uniforms, and their headquarters will fly an EU flag. This current operation comes just weeks after EU defense ministers announced that their 60,000-soldier rapid-reaction force is now ready, although still lacking some equipment.

Source: The Guardian