Kallas says the European Union does not need a unified army

Monday 29 June 2026 - 16:45

By: Azzat Manal

Kallas says the European Union does not need a unified army

The European Union does not need to establish a unified military force because the armed forces of its member states already form part of NATO's collective defense system, according to Kaja Kallas, the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

Speaking in a recent interview, Kallas emphasized that every EU member state maintains its own national military, while many of these forces operate within NATO's integrated defense framework. She argued that creating a separate European army would not be the most practical approach to strengthening the continent's security.

Instead, Kallas said European governments should focus on reinforcing their national defense capabilities, increasing investment in military readiness, and improving coordination among allies. She stressed that Europe's current security challenges require a united and well-coordinated response rather than the creation of parallel military structures.

The EU's foreign policy chief also reaffirmed that the bloc has no intention of replacing or duplicating NATO's role. Instead, she highlighted the importance of close cooperation between the European Union and the alliance to ensure efficient use of resources and avoid unnecessary overlap in defense planning.

The debate over a common European army has intensified in recent years, particularly following the war in Ukraine and growing geopolitical tensions across Europe. At the same time, several NATO members have faced increasing pressure to raise defense spending and strengthen military preparedness.

While some European leaders have previously expressed support for deeper military integration, many governments continue to favor expanding cooperation between national armed forces through joint procurement, shared defense projects, intelligence cooperation, and coordinated operations rather than establishing a single European military force.

Security analysts note that Europe is increasingly investing in defense modernization, cybersecurity, and strategic autonomy. However, NATO remains the cornerstone of collective defense for most EU countries, making cooperation between the two organizations a central pillar of European security policy.

As discussions on Europe's future defense architecture continue, policymakers are expected to focus on enhancing military capabilities, improving interoperability among national forces, and reinforcing partnerships that can respond effectively to evolving regional and global security challenges.