Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
The European Union announced in a statement issued in Brussels that the Council of the European Union has adopted a third assistance measure worth €20 million under the European Peace Facility to supply the Mauritanian Armed Forces with military equipment.
According to the statement, a copy of which we received, this decision comes in addition to two other assistance measures worth €12 million and €15 million, adopted on December 1, 2022, and July 22, 2024, respectively. These two measures support the efforts of the Mauritanian Armed Forces to promote stability in the Sahel region, counter the threat of destabilization, and protect Mauritania's territorial integrity, sovereignty, and civilian population from internal and external aggression.
Total EU support to Mauritania under the European Peace Facility now amounts to €47 million.
Under this package, the EU provides the Mauritanian Armed Forces with the capabilities necessary to conduct land and maritime military activities, including surveillance, deterrence, and operations. The newly approved assistance measure will complement the existing package, equipping the army with mobile ground surveillance equipment and the navy with a second patrol boat, similar to the one expected under the assistance measure approved in 2024.
This equipment will support the Mauritanian Armed Forces' efforts to enhance situational awareness on national territory. It will also contribute to a permanent presence at sea, supporting maritime security and in cooperation with the existing Yaoundé structure.
The European Peace Facility was established in March 2021 to finance EU external activities with military or defense implications, with the aim of preventing conflicts, maintaining peace, and promoting international security and stability. In particular, this facility enables the EU to finance activities aimed at strengthening the military and defense capacities of third countries and regional and international organizations.