The EU’s defence chief has issued a dire warning over Europe’s vulnerability, as he suggested the bloc should consider creating a 100,000-strong military force amid the threat posed by Russia. Andrius Kubilius even suggested that the UK could be pulled in from the cold to work with Brussels, as he warned that Europe is “under pressure”.
The EU defence commissioner said nations must go for a “big bang” in defence as he also expressed worries over US commitment to the region. Mr Kubilius called for greater “unity” on the continent and “new ideas and bold decisions” must be brought to the table. His comments came as concerns continue to grow over Donald Trump’s repeated threats to annexe Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, and what this could mean for NATO.
Mr Kubilius told a Swedish security conference: “Would the United States be militarily stronger if they would have 50 armies on the States level instead of a single federal army, 50 state defence policies and defence budgets on the states level, instead of a single federal defence policy and budget?
“If our answer is ‘no’ USA would not be stronger, then – what are we waiting for?”
He went on to voice his concerns over what could happen if the US “shifts” from Europe, and suggested creating a European Army could be an option.
He said: “Most importantly — how will we replace the 100,000 strong American standing military force, which is the backbone military force in Europe?
“Who will form our European standing back-bone military force: Germans? A collection of 27 “bonsai armies”: armies that look nice but are clipped, cut down, shrunk?
“Or as Jean Claude Juncker, Emmanuel Macron, Angela Merkel already proposed ten years ago and supported today by experts and Europeans: the creation of a powerful, standing “European military force” of 100,000 troops.”
The EU’s Defence Commissioner also called for the creation of a European Security Council and said the UK should play its part when “discussing broader European security”.
“I believe it’s now an urgent task to turn this idea into reality,” he added.
Painting a worrying picture of European security, the former Lithuanian PM said: “Today Russia‘s military budget in PPP terms is 85% of defence spending of all the EU Member States.
“There are no signs that Putin will go for peace. Even if peace will be established, he will continue with a war economy.
“The USA officially is asking us to be ready to take all the responsibility for the conventional defence of Europe. And we cannot disagree with such a request.”