Would you be happy to watch a British General salute the EU anthem and flag?

As Starmer prepares to surrender UK forces to EU, we show a video of this before EU exit

Montage © Facts4EU.Org 2025

Plus, what was Foreign Sec David Lammy doing last week, standing to attention at an EU military base in Bosnia?

One of the major topics at Sir Keir Starmer’s ‘EU Reset’ summit in London on Monday (19 May 2025) is defence. Specifically he wants UK firms to be able to bid for EU military spending and in return the EU want him to sign up to a 'defence pact' involving elements of its Common Security and Defence Policy, amongst many other demands.

If Starmer agrees – and we believe he will agree some of this now and some later and more quietly – then the UK will no longer be a fully sovereign country, so soon after the vote to leave the European Union.

This report, and the one which follows it, lays bare how this process was underway in 2018 under Theresa May while the UK was still a member country of the EU.

The example we are using is that of Bosnia. We show how UK troops were already being made to wear EU flagged uniforms on foreign (EU) operations.

And finally we show how a British Army General saluted while the EU anthem, by the German composer Beethoven, was played at the ceremony to welcome the British contingent to the EU’s military operation.

Photo right: Credit EUFOR Althea. The British General saluting the EU, with its anthem playing, and with the EU flag behind him.

Serving the EU

With the Prime Minister welcoming EU leaders in London on Monday for his great ‘EU reset’, defence is on the agenda. He is anxious to join in the EU’s long overdue programme to increase its defence expenditure (using borrowed money) and to ensure UK companies benefit.

Perhaps this is why only last week, Foreign Secretary David Lammy flew to Sarajevo and stood to attention at a similar EU ceremony as a sign of UK intentions, but which attracted little media scrutiny.

The British Army as part of an EU military operation, 2018

What follows took place in 2018, two years after the British people had voted to leave the bloc and while the UK was still a member country.

In the video we have obtained below, British Army General, Sir James Everard KCB CBE, wearing EU insignia, reviews the guard of honour, salutes an EU flag, and salutes the playing of the EU anthem ‘Ode to Joy’ by German composer Ludwig van Beethoven.

In case this video's facility to be embedded is removed by the EU, here is the link to the post which will allow you to watch via X.com (Twitter).

This video was published by the EU on 30 Jan 2018.

The above was not an isolated incident

Our second video was taken in August of the same year (2018). This shows British paratroopers landing in Bosnia, wearing the EU flag stitched into their uniforms, under the command of an Austrian general, and where the accompanying British General saluted while the EU anthem was played.

This was at a time when the pro-EU UK Government and the pro-EU Ministry of Defence were still insistent that there were no plans for an EU Army, despite all evidence of EU actions and statements to the contrary.

In case any readers find this hard to believe, here is the video of EU-badged British paratroopers arriving. Unfortunately the EU has set this video so that it cannot be embedded, which is very unusual. We have therefore given readers a clickable image from the video of a British para arriving off the transport plane where you can clearly see the EU flag on his uniform. This will take you to the X.com (Twitter) page where you can watch the video.

Credit: X.com

The above image shows a British para with his EU flag clearly sewn on his shoulder, being welcomed by the EU Commander to the base of the EU military operation being conducted from in Sarajevo, Bosnia. As can be seen in the video accessible above, so large was the deployment of the British Army to serve under the EU that they had to use a Russian-built, giant Antonov transport plane to deliver all the soldiers, vehicles, and equipment.

The British Army was doing this in 2018 at the same time that the EU was acting in a hostile manner against the UK in the Brexit negotiations.

The EU's mission in Bosnia – what is it doing there?

For years the EU has had a military presence in Bosnia as a peacekeeping force. It is known as EUFOR Althea. ‘EUFOR’ is military jargon for ‘EU Force’, making it very clear that this is an EU operation. Here is what the EU says:

“The European Union provides significant resources to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) as part of its comprehensive approach, supporting the country on its journey towards European integration.

“European Union Force (EUFOR) Operation ALTHEA is the EU’s military commitment to this journey.”

Readers will note that the EU military’s mission is “supporting the country on its journey towards European integration”.

Bosnia, the Balkans, and EU enlargement

The six Balkans countries, of which Bosnia-Herzegovina is one, all want to join the EU and are at various stages of readiness to do so. Given the warring factions there, Bosnia is one of the least-prepared but is nevertheless officially a ‘candidate country’, giving it formal status. That said, it is very clear from all of the EU’s pronouncements that it sees Bosnia (to use its informal name) becoming part of the EU and this is mentioned in the same breath as talk of the military operations in which the UK was taking part.

The large deployment of the British Army to Bosnia was therefore in support of the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy and in the EU's interests in enlarging itself by acquiring Balkans countries as members, to compensate for losing the United Kingdom.

And here we bring things up to date: May 2025

Here is an example of the EU’s intent from only last week. This is the EU Ambassador to the UN, Stavros Lambrinidis, speaking at the Security Council - as if the EU were already a superstate country.

What was David Lammy doing in Bosnia last week?

The Rt Hon David Lammy MP, photo credit: EUFOR Althea

What is less clear is why the UK should have any role in this EU military operation, given that the UK is no longer a member of the EU. This makes it hard to understand why, the day after the EU’s Ambassador spoke to the UN Security Council, the UK Foreign Secretary, the Rt Hon David Lammy MP, was standing to attention at the same military base featured in our videos from 2018.

The FCDO said in a statement on 07 May 2025:

“He will also visit the EUFOR military base, which is playing a key role in maintaining security in BiH [Bosnia Herzegovina] and therefore contributing to regional stability.

“Ongoing instability in the region risks a return to violence and threatens collective security, including through irregular migration and serious and organised crime.”

The real reason may lie in the statement Mr Lammy made:

“We are working hand-in-hand with our European allies to build a safer, more secure, and more prosperous Europe. Together, we will stand firm against aggression, defend our shared values, and deliver lasting peace.”

- FCDO statement 07 May 2025

This 'sets the tone' for the defence discussions at Sir Keir Starmer's 'reset' summit on Monday.

The FCDO may well say that Mr Lammy was there as Foreign Secretary of a NATO member country and NATO supports the EU's mission in Bosnia. All we would say is that while at the EU base the FCDO did not provide any statement by David Lammy about NATO.

The connection with Sir Keir Starmer’s ‘EU Reset’ summit in London

The EU is very keen that the UK should join in its military missions. In a further report we will show why this is deeply problematic for anyone who believes that the United Kingdom should be an independent country having left (excepting Northern Ireland) the European Union.

The UK quietly signed up to part of the EU's military combine in 2018 and in the next report we shall reveal the full ramifications of this and of any deal that the PM plans to agree to with the EU on defence at his summit.

Observations

We believe that the vast majority of UK servicemen and service women, if asked, would say they are serving "for King and Country". We think it highly unlikely they would feel comfortable saying they are serving "for Ursula von der Leyen and her unelected Commissioners in Belgium..."

Please, please help us to carry on our vital work in defence of independence, sovereignty, democracy and freedom by donating today. Thank you.

[ Sources: EEAS | EU Commission | EUFOR Althea | MoD | FCDO ] Politicians and journalists can contact us for details, as ever.

Brexit Facts4EU.Org, Thurs 15 May 2025

Click here to go to our news headlines

Please scroll down to COMMENT on the above article.
And don't forget actually to post your message after you have previewed it!

Share this article on

Something to say about this? Scroll down for reader comments

Since before the EU Referendum, Brexit Facts4EU.Org
has been the most prolific researcher and publisher of Brexit facts in the world.

Supported by MPs, MEPs, & other groups, our work has impact.

We think facts matter. Please donate today, so that we can continue to ensure a clean Brexit is finally delivered.

Any credit card user

Quick One-off

Donate

From £5 - £1,000

Monthly

Subscribe

From £3 per month

Paypal Users Only - Choose amount first

Quick One-off

Monthly