France-Led European Force in Mali to Expand in 2021

France-led European force Task Force ‘Takuba’ in Africa’s Mali is planned for substantial expansion in 2021 with several more countries joining it this year.

The French MoD announced Thursday that Romania had sent 45 soldiers to bolster the task force which is currently carrying out consultancy, assistance and combat support missions to help African Sahel nations (Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mauritania) in their ongoing fight against the Islamic State and al-Qaeda.

Romania's announcement concretely reflects the growing power of Defense Europe, in its operational aspect, a French MoD release said Thursday.

Many observers believe that the European Force is intended to break away from reliance on the United States in multinational missions and set its own course in international force projection as a united Europe and away from the U.S.-led NATO.

Initiated by Florence Parly, French Minister of the Armed Forces, during a speech dedicated to counterterrorism in on June 13, 2019, the Takuba Task Force was officially launched on March 27, 2020. The awareness of a common challenge for Europeans in the fight against terrorism, at the heart of Florence Parly's discussions with her counterparts, was one of the keys to the development of this unprecedented Task Force, the ministry said.

Many partners have already joined the Task Force: Estonia, the Czech Republic, Sweden and Italy, which will join it during the summer of 2021. Portugal, the Netherlands and Belgium have deployed officers within of the Takuba staff.

Other deployments are to come: Denmark is planning a contribution of around 100 soldiers. Further discussions are underway at the political level regarding additional contributions.