Greenland row: EU floats idea of 100,000-strong joint force; aims to cut reliance on US troops
EU defence commissioner Andrius Kubilius proposed a 100,000-strong joint European military force to potentially replace US troops, citing concerns over Washington's long-term commitment. He also advocated for a European Security Council to expedite defence decisions, with Ukraine's war as a top priority.
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European Union countries should seriously consider creating a joint military force that could one day replace US troops stationed in Europe, the bloc’s defence commissioner has said, as concerns grow over Washington’s long-term commitment to the region.Speaking in Sweden on Sunday, EU defence commissioner Andrius Kubilius suggested the idea of setting up a “powerful, standing European military force” made up of around 100,000 troops, as per news agency AFP.
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He framed the proposal as a response to a key strategic question facing Europe today.“How will we replace the 100,000-strong American standing military force, which is the back-bone military force in Europe?” Kubilius asked during his speech.His comments come at a time when several European countries are reassessing their security arrangements amid fears that the United States may scale back its military presence on the continent. Those worries have intensified following repeated remarks by US President Donald Trump, including his insistence that the US wants to take over Greenland, a move that has alarmed Nato allies and raised doubts about Washington’s reliability, according to AFP.
European governments have already begun stepping up defence spending and military preparedness, driven both by uncertainty over US support and the ongoing threat posed by Russia. The US has long urged its European allies to shoulder more responsibility for their own security and has also hinted that it could shift troops away from Europe to focus more on China.The idea of a central European army is not new and has been discussed for years. However, it has failed to gain momentum in the past, largely because individual countries have been reluctant to give up control over their national armed forces.Acknowledging the scale of the challenge, Kubilius said Europe must confront difficult questions about its defence structures. “In such times, we should not run away from the most pressing questions on our institutional defence readiness,” said the former Lithuanian prime minister, as reported by AFP.Alongside the proposal for a joint force, Kubilius also called for the creation of a “European Security Council” to allow faster and more coordinated decision-making on defence matters. He said the body could include key European powers, potentially including Britain, and would be made up of around 10 to 12 members, combining permanent and rotating seats.“The European Security Council could be composed of key permanent members, along with several rotational members,” he said.
“In total around 10-12 members, with the task to discuss the most important issues in defence.”Kubilius added that one of the council’s first priorities should be Ukraine. Referring to the war with Russia, he said Europe needed a clear plan to prevent Kyiv from losing. “We need to have a clear answer – how is the EU going to change that scenario?” he said. “This is the reason why we need to have a European Security Council now!”, he added.