Bloc's leaders divided on independent defense force in the wake of subs row

European Union leaders have failed in their efforts to find common ground over the suggestion of an independent defense force at their first major gathering following a tumultuous period in international affairs.

This week's summit in Slovenia is the first time senior figures from the 27 members states have met since the western withdrawal from Afghanistan, and the country's subsequent slide back into Taliban control, and also the diplomatic row prompted by the United States/United Kingdom/Australia military pact in the Indo-Pacific region, that led to Australia canceling a major order for submarines from France.

French President Emmanuel Macron had led calls for closer military cooperation between EU states, but when top ranking officials came face to face, they did not succeed in coming to any sort of consensus.

It is understood that there is a divide between states from the former Eastern Europe, who are fearful of Russia's power and want Europe strengthened through NATO, and others including Germany and France who want a stronger EU capability.

"Drawing the lessons of recent crises, we are committed to consolidating our strengths and strengthening our resilience by reducing our critical dependencies," said EU Council president Charles Michel after the meeting. "To become more effective and assertive on the international stage, the EU needs to increase its capacity to act autonomously."

Even before the submarine row, which saw France withdraw its ambassadors from Washington and Canberra, the chaos of evacuation from Afghanistan had already led Macron to ask questions about how much the US could be relied upon to protect Europe.

"We Europeans need to be clear with ourselves. What matters to us in our security, on our borders, our independence?" said the French president, who will meet his US counterpart Joe Biden in Rome at the end of this month.

On Tuesday, Macron had talks with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, his first meeting with a senior American official since the submarine contract row blew up.

The 40-minute meeting was a last-minute addition to the agenda of Blinken's visit to Paris, which was originally for unrelated reasons, the Agence France-Presse news agency reported.

A senior State Department official told reporters that although "a lot of hard work remains to be done", there was "common agreement that we have an opportunity now to deepen and strengthen the coordination", and French officials said the meeting would contribute to "restoring confidence" between the sides.

Another topic on the agenda at the EU leaders meeting was how the bloc's relationship with China will develop.

"We will also pursue our own interests, in particular vis-a-vis China, which we consider as a competitor, a partner and a systemic rival," added Michel.