The Independent, Tensions between the European Union and the United States over defence burst into the open yesterday when America called a special meeting in Nato next Monday to discuss Europe's plans for military co-operation.
The move followed frank exchanges within the alliance on Wednesday when the US made known its concerns over the direction of the EU's plans to boost defence cooperation.
Nato sources said the informal meeting of ambassadors would discuss the direction of relations between Nato and the EU amid a climate of growing concern in Washington.
The Americans are particularly concerned that some European Nato allies seem to have cut off communication prior to agreement among EU member states on defence cooperation in a new EU constitution. That could effectively present the US with a fait accompli, they say.
The news emerged as Tony Blair held talks with his EU counterparts in Brussels. Britain went out of its way to reassure the US that closer coordination of EU defence would not undermine the transatlantic alliance.
At a meeting in Berlin last month Mr Blair agreed to drop his opposition to “structured cooperation” under which groups of countries could forge ahead with joint ties.
Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, said: “We are intending to make sure that nothing undermines the pre-eminence of Nato as the guarantor of the territorial defence of Europe.” France and Germany are expected to drop a push for a mutual defence guarantee in the EU in exchange for British backing for structured cooperation.
Last night Tony Blair met Jacques Chirac, the French President, Gerhard Schr
