Critics argue the EU’s €5bn plan to boost its ‘hard power’ and arm friendly governments in Africa and elsewhere is reckless

“We are not going to stop the terrorists from killing people just by preaching,” he said. “We need arms. We need military capacities and that is what we are going to provide, to help our African friends. Because their security is our security.”

The African countries of most security concern to Europe were formerly occupied by France.

EU-trained Libyan coastguards have been accused of human rights abuses in their operations to stop migrants crossing the Mediterranean to the EU.

FT May 2021

https://www.ft.com/content/dd29eb4d-1fc0-4123-ada1-290c4c63d966