The EU has committed to sending weapons to Somalia and Niger under the European Peace Facility as Brussels’ new wave of militarism shows no sign of abating. At a meeting of the Schuman Security and Defense Forum in Brussels this week, the bloc’s foreign policy chief Josep Borell revealed the EU’s plan to expand the provision of military aid to its African partners.
Borell added that Ukraine had changed Europe’s security outlook as he confirmed that the EU would shortly formalise its intention to supply arms to pro-Western governments in Somalia and Niger:
We know that our partners are increasingly interested in lethal support. Yes, what we have done for Ukraine can and will be done for others.
Borrell’s comments come amid worsening geopolitical conditions for Western proxies in Africa, with France suffering a series of humiliating defeats in the Sahel region against Russian-backed juntas and Islamists.
The EU already maintains multiple military missions in Africa, including a newly announced training deployment to Niger and a long-established presence in Somalia. Both countries are considered EU partners, with Niger seen by experts as a vital fallback position for the West in the aftermath of recent geopolitical upsets in West Africa favouring Russia.
The European Peace Facility (EPF) is the EU’s primary financial asset for foreign policy objectives. Through it, EU leaders have confirmed millions in funding for African-based projects last month alongside further funding for Ukraine.
The decision to channel funding from the EPF to arms for African allies would be a major escalation for the EU and would indicate a permanent shift in policy outlook following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Africa is strategically important to the EU’s foreign policy in terms of controlling illegal migration and securing resource requirements for the green transition. War in Ukraine has forced the EU to reevaluate its future relationship with Africa amid fears of multipolarity and growing Russian influence.
