At least 20 countries in the European Union will sign up to a new defence pact next week being promoted by France and Germany to fund and develop joint military hardware in a show of unity following Britain’s decision to quit the bloc.
After years of spending cutbacks in Europe and a heavy reliance on the United States through the Nato alliance, France and Germany hope the accord, to be signed on November 13 in Brussels, will tie nations into tighter defence collaboration covering troops and weapons.
