BY PNW STAFF
Spain's renewed push for a European Union army has reopened one of Brussels' most persistent--and unresolved--strategic debates: whether Europe can, or should, transform its economic bloc into a unified military power capable of acting independently from both NATO and the United States.
Speaking recently, Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares called for the creation of an EU army that would eventually replace reliance on NATO for core security guarantees. His argument reflects a growing unease in parts of Europe that transatlantic security can no longer be assumed, particularly with Washington's shifting priorities under Donald Trump. Madrid has even found itself directly in the political crossfire, with threats of tariffs and reduced military cooperation tied to Spain's resistance to higher defense spending targets and alignment with broader U.S. strategic positions.
Albares framed the issue in stark terms: Europe, he argued, should not wake up "wondering what the U.S. will do next." His comments capture a wider sentiment gaining traction inside the European Union--one that sees Europe as economically powerful but strategically dependent, and increasingly vulnerable to decisions made outside its control.
Over the past two decades, proposals for an EU army or a deeper "European Defense Union" have surfaced repeatedly. France has long advocated strategic autonomy, particularly under Emmanuel Macron. Germany has periodically supported stronger EU defense coordination.
Even smaller member states have backed the idea in principle after crises such as Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 exposed Europe's reliance on U.S. military capability. Yet despite these recurring calls, institutional progress has remained limited. The European Union still lacks unified command structures, defense procurement remains fragmented, and national militaries remain politically sensitive symbols of sovereignty.
The Ukraine war, however, has fundamentally altered the tone of the debate. Russia's invasion has forced European governments to confront the return of large-scale conventional warfare on the continent. Defense spending is rising across Europe, though unevenly, and the focus has shifted toward artillery stockpiles, air defense systems, and long-range strike capabilities that had been neglected for decades.
Nowhere is this shift more visible than in Germany. After decades of chronic underinvestment in defense, Chancellor Friedrich Merz has pledged to build Europe's "strongest conventional army." Berlin has launched a historic expansion of the Bundeswehr, targeting the recruitment of roughly 80,000 additional soldiers by 2035. Germany is also accelerating procurement of modern air defense systems, expanding cyber warfare capabilities, and investing in rapid deployment infrastructure designed to strengthen NATO's eastern flank.
This shift is not only military but psychological. For a country historically defined by post-war restraint, Germany's rearmament signals a broader European acceptance that deterrence now requires scale, industrial depth, and sustained military readiness.
Yet Europe's defense debate is driven by more than Russia alone. A growing factor is the widening divergence between European foreign policy and that of the United States. The Iran question is one example: while Washington has often pursued a more confrontational approach, several European governments have favored diplomacy and nuclear agreement frameworks. These differences have reinforced the perception in Brussels that Europe is often reactive--adjusting to U.S. decisions rather than shaping global outcomes independently.
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