The idea of a European army is not new, but despite being a concept that is difficult to implement, it regularly comes to the forefront of the scene – especially since the beginning of the war in Ukraine and the second term of Donald Trump’s presidency.
The idea dates back to 1950, when the French Prime Minister René Pleven proposed to establish “a unified European army from the perspective of command, organization, equipment, and funding, under the direction of a single supranational authority.” The European Defense Community did not materialize, but the topic of a European army resurfaces regularly, particularly in light of the war in Ukraine and the geopolitical consequences of decisions made by the Trump administration, as well as the increasing tensions between Europe and the United States.
During the World Economic Forum in Davos, European Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrius Kubilius advocated for the creation of a military force to “fight as Europe.”
“Our problem is the lack of unity,” he also stated in a speech in January.
On the contrary, European Commission Vice President Kaja Kallas expressed during a press conference in late January that she could not imagine “distinct European armies” separate from national armies.
A study published in February 2025 by the Center for Strategic and International Studies highlighted the need for Europe to detach from the United States and rethink its common defense.
“In the long term, Europe should seriously consider building a common European force that could fight and act unitedly to defend the continent and replace the United States. Instead of a single force, a joint European force would probably be a hybrid force,” the study suggested.
Context
The article discusses the ongoing debate and discussions regarding the establishment of a European army, touching on various viewpoints and perspectives on the matter.
Fact Check
The European Defense Community proposed in 1950 ultimately did not come to fruition as a unified European army, despite ongoing discussions about the concept.
