EU nations sign up for new era of deeper defense cooperation

European Union countries on Monday officially launched a new era in defense cooperation with a program of joint military investment and project development aimed at helping the EU confront its security challenges.

Twenty-three of the EU’s 28 member nations signed up to the process, known as permanent structured cooperation, or PESCO. Britain, which is leaving the EU in 2019, and Denmark with a defense opt-out were among those not taking part.

EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini described it as a “historic moment in European defense,” and added that “23 member states engaging booth on capabilities and on operational steps is something big.” Those who didn’t sign up can join later.