ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the doctrinal and operational differences that have, to date, combined to render more evanescent the European Pillar of defense. The Alliance would have liked what the Germans sought from France, an abandonment of non-automaticity. Under the terms of these and other arrangements, the details of which remain secret, France has gone part way to addressing long-standing German concerns. The Force d'action rapide really does fill the bill as an essential coupling device between French and German security, "a new military ace with the potential political advantage of bringing about the immediate merger of France and its allies in the face of a threat." Autonomy, it must be reiterated, as well as security, has been a goal of European Pillar builders. According to the judgment, the brigade could either have participated in forward defense or provided rearward security for French units in France heading into combat in Germany.
