The expansion of the US zone of interests, Russia's aggressive policy, and the ghostly future of NATO have forced Brussels to think about its own army.
The European Union could get its own standing army of up to 100,000 soldiers, EU Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius said. He believes that even the United Kingdom should join such an army. As Politico reports, Kubilius said this during a security conference in Sweden, calling for radical changes in defense policy.
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The European Commissioner proposed creating an armed force of up to 100,000 soldiers that would operate at the level of the entire European Union. Kubilius called this step a “big bang”, referring to radical systemic changes in the EU’s defense policy. He emphasized that this is not about cosmetic changes, but about a systemic transformation of the EU’s defense architecture. Kubilius paid special attention to the issue of London’s involvement. Despite leaving the EU, Britain remains a key player in the security sector, and its participation in the joint forces could become a symbol of a new level of European unity.
The European Commissioner stressed that the current system, where each country has its own defense policy and budget, is less effective than a single defense strategy and common financing. A common army and a single budget would allow the EU to act faster and more decisively in crisis situations, Kubilius believes.
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He cited the United States as an example, asking a rhetorical question: would it be stronger if it had 50 separate armies — one in each state — instead of one federal one?
According to him, the EU should review current political processes in the field of defense and take a step towards creating joint forces that could become an answer to modern security challenges.
We previously reported on how Europe is going to stop Trump's annexation of Greenland.
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In the photo is EU Commissioner for Defense Andrius Kubilius. Photo by Radio Liberty