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EU defense chief proposes 100,000-strong unified army
The European Union's defense commissioner has called for creating a unified military force of 100,000 troops to potentially offset the withdrawal of American forces from the continent. Andrius Kubilius made the pitch during a major security conference in Sweden, amid growing alarms over U.S. reliability as a security partner. President Donald Trump's threats to annex Greenland and signals of scaling back U.S. military presence in Europe have sharpened these concerns across European capitals.
"How will we replace the permanent U.S. military force of 100,000 troops that forms the backbone of Europe's defense?" Kubilius asked in his address to the annual Folk och Försvar conference in Sälen. He warned that Europe's existing "bonsai armies" small, underpowered national forces cannot fill the gap without deeper integration.
Kubilius's remarks echo rising anxiety following Trump's recent declaration that the United States will seek control of Greenland "whether they like it or not." The president did not rule out military action to seize the Danish territory, claiming that without U.S. intervention, Russia or China would claim it. The United States has informed NATO allies it expects Europe to take primary responsibility for conventional defense by 2027, with potential impacts on U.S. involvement in Alliance planning if unmet. In October, the Pentagon began drawing down some troop deployments along NATO's eastern flank.
Beyond the joint force, Kubilius advocated establishing a European Security Council with 10 to 12 members, featuring key permanent seats and rotating ones. This body would enable swifter decisions on defense matters, prioritizing Ukraine. "We need a clear answer how will the EU change this scenario?" he said, referring to the risk that sustained current levels of support could allow Russian President Vladimir Putin to prevail.
Recent polls in Spain, Belgium, Germany, and other EU countries show about 70 percent of citizens prefer their nation defended by a European army over national forces or NATO. A separate 2024 survey found 60 percent of EU citizens support creating a common European army.
The idea of a European army dates back to the 1950s and gained fresh momentum in 2018 from German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron. Past efforts stalled due to member states' reluctance to relinquish control over their armed forces, a core element of national sovereignty. EU members have submitted over 190 billion euros in requests for defense projects under the bloc's SAFE secured lending program, initially budgeted at 150 billion euros. Fifteen member states included Ukraine support in their bids.
