Germany’s defence minister called for a European “defence union” on Thursday (8 September) during a visit to the Baltic state of Lithuania, where Berlin is preparing to lead a battle group of about 1,000 troops as a deterrence against neighbouring Russia. The European Union has long considered forging closer defence ties while not undermining the US-led NATO alliance, to which many EU member states also belong, especially in the face of a more aggressive Russia and worsening conflicts in the Middle East. The decision of Britain, a staunch opponent of any EU “army”, to quit the EU has also removed an obstacle to the closer European defence cooperation favoured by Germany, France and many eastern European countries. [...]