Europe Needs an Army

Why It Matters

A shift toward an independent European force would reshape defense spending, NATO dynamics, and the EU’s geopolitical clout.

Key Takeaways

• US reduces commitment to European security.
• NATO cohesion faces strain from American policy shifts.
• Europe considering independent rapid reaction force.
• Defense spending gaps could reach €200 billion annually.
• Strategic autonomy becomes EU's top security priority.

Pulse Analysis

The United States’ recent pivot away from its post‑World‑War II security umbrella has sent shockwaves through the transatlantic partnership. Policies such as threatening NATO territory, slashing Ukraine assistance, and imposing tariffs have eroded confidence in Washington’s willingness to act as Europe’s guarantor. Analysts note that this erosion is not merely rhetorical; it translates into tangible capability gaps, prompting member states to reassess reliance on American power and to explore home‑grown solutions for rapid crisis response.

In response, European leaders are accelerating discussions around a unified rapid‑reaction force, often dubbed a “European army.” The European Defence Fund and initiatives like PESCO (Permanent Structured Cooperation) provide a financial and institutional framework for joint procurement, training, and operational command. Proponents argue that a standing multinational brigade could fill the void left by a retreating U.S., ensuring that the continent can defend its borders without external permission. Critics, however, warn of political fragmentation, divergent threat perceptions, and the challenge of reconciling national sovereignty with collective command structures.

The broader implications extend beyond military readiness. A sovereign European defence capability could reshape NATO’s burden‑sharing calculus, potentially prompting the alliance to evolve from a U.S.–led security guarantor to a more balanced partnership. Economically, the projected €200 billion annual shortfall in defence spending may drive deeper integration of the European defence industry, fostering innovation and job creation. Strategically, a credible European force would enhance the EU’s diplomatic leverage in negotiations with Russia, China, and other global actors, signaling a decisive move toward strategic autonomy in an increasingly multipolar world.

Europe Needs an Army

Only Collective Defense Can Protect the Continent · February 9 2026 · French soldiers preparing for a military exercise in Santimbru, Romania, November 2025 · Andreea Campeanu / Reuters

The transatlantic alliance is on the ropes. Since the end of World War II, American power has underwritten European unification and integration—arguably Washington’s greatest foreign policy accomplishment. But the Trump administration has made clear that the United States is no longer interested in acting as Europe’s security guarantor. It has threatened to seize the territory of a NATO member, reduced funding to Ukraine, aggressively imposed tariffs on European allies, and, in its 2025 National Security Strategy, called for “cultivating resistance to Europe’s current trajectory.” The message could not be clearer: the continent can no longer rely on.