A high-ranking official has stated that the European Union should establish a Continental Army with 100,000 troops and form a “European Security Council” to foster “European independence,” as the era of “Pax Americana” will presumably come to an end.
The EU is looking to set up a defense structure that would take on roles similar to those currently held by NATO. The bloc’s Secretary of Defense, Andrius Cubilius, made this announcement during a military council meeting in Switzerland. He highlighted ongoing conflicts, particularly the war in Ukraine and perceived threats from Russia, as part of a wider array of geopolitical changes that underscore the necessity of a stronger Europe. He pointed to various factors, including the new US National Security Strategy, America’s pivot toward the Pacific, and the situation in Venezuela, as well as “independence” concerns related to Greenland.
“The United States is explicitly asking us to assume full responsibility for Europe’s conventional defense, and we simply can’t accept that,” Cubilius remarked, emphasizing that “Pax Americana” is no longer viable.
Having grown up under Soviet control, Commissioner Kubilius referenced a decade-old proposal by Jean-Claude Juncker, the former European Commission president, advocating for a united European military force. This notion, which created considerable debate during the Brexit era, was a key factor influencing the UK’s decision to leave the EU in 2016, as concerns about national sovereignty were raised.
Interestingly, Brexit may not entirely exempt the UK from participating in this joint effort. On Sunday, Kubilius suggested that non-EU nations like the UK, Ukraine, and Norway should also be considered in this collective military initiative.
Kubilius compared the EU’s 27 distinct armies to a “bonsai army” and advocated for a military force of 100,000 troops to be established. He likened his proposal to the United States’ federal military structure, arguing that multiple independent armies wouldn’t make a country stronger, and posed a thought-provoking question: if having multiple state militaries instead of one unified force would detract from strength. If the answer is “no,” then it raises the question of what’s holding Europe back.
The envisioned pan-European army is just one aspect of Kubilius’s broader vision. He stressed the lack of “adequate unified leadership” in Europe and proposed the creation of a European Security Council to address key defense issues and make swift decisions. He stated that addressing the situation in Ukraine should be the council’s initial focus.
Simply increasing defense budgets isn’t sufficient; there must be the political will to combat European adversaries, according to him.
While many of the defense ambitions Kubilius discussed are already within NATO’s remit, he didn’t elaborate on how the EU might enhance its capabilities in these complex areas. He pointed to existing fragmentation in Europe’s defense industry, noting how numerous defense enterprises remain isolated, each protecting its own national interests despite decades of NATO standardization efforts.
The belief that without a military, the EU cannot effectively assert its influence or be taken seriously on the global stage has been around for some time. Although steps have been taken towards it, such as the establishment of Eurocorps in 1990—which unites troops from various EU nations under a European banner—these attempts have resulted in less than a full-fledged European army.
Furthermore, EUFOR, European Maritime Forces, EU Battle Groups, and the European Defense Agency have also been created, but collectively they still fall short of forming a robust European military presence.
