Photo: AFPAFP · 16 Sep 2016, 15:21Published: 16 Sep 2016 15:21 GMT+02:00France can take the lead in European defence cooperation, but cannot do it all on its own, French President Francois Hollande said Friday as EU leaders held crunch post-Brexit talks. "France is making the main effort on European defence but it cannot be alone and does not want to be alone," Hollande said as he went into the summit in Bratislava with security top of the agenda. Hollande said France wanted to work with its partners to assure Europe's defence, in line with the alliances it has, namely with the United States in NATO. "Let everyone know that if the United States chooses to draw back, Europe must be able to defend itself," Hollande said. European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker this week proposed an EU defence headquarters, underscoring how the EU is keen to move on now it no longer has to worry about Britain's long-term opposition to any European Union army which would undermine NATO's role.

Source: The Local September 16, 2016 09:45 UTC