Thread by @jseldin

#Russia-#Ukraine: "One of the worst effects...in my view is that it focused attention of the European member states on the eastern front, lowering the already low level of attention on the south" Deputy Dir General of the EU Military Staff LtGen Giovanni Manione tells #EUDFF22

"It is a tragic effect. It is a huge mistake" per the EU Military Staff's LtGen Manione

"We are keeping resources stick to just in case something happens, forgetting completely that actions should be taken now in another theater"

#Ukraine - "I'm not sure this is the main target of the #Russia|ns" per the EU Military Staff's LtGen Manione

"The main target of the Russian could be having ppl focused on there [Ukraine], forgetting they're [Russia's] actions elsewhere"

#France's CT forces will be leaving #Mali BUT "we do expect to stay in the region to fight against terrorism from another position, which will be probably #Niger" @franceintheus Defense Attache MajGen Cyril Carcy tells #EUDFF22

In #Africa, "There is a need for a regional actor to do things, like crisis management in #Libya" per the EU Military Staff's LtGen Manione "And this is the #EuropeanUnion"

"@NATO will never ever go to #Libya" per the EU Military Staff's LtGen Manione

"NATO, to act outside its own area of responsibility needs consensus...Consensus will never be reached if you talk about Libya bcs some of the allies will never ever allow this"

"It's the same in the #Sahel" per @franceintheus' MajGen Cyril Carcy

"@NATO will never be involved in the Sahel" he says, though calls it a success story w/#France-EU-US cooperation