EU Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrius Kubilius has proposed creating a new defense alliance with its own standing military amid the United States’ weakening role in European security.
Euractiv reported this news.
On April 17, Kubilius proposed a new intergovernmental treaty that would allow the formation of a defense alliance and prepare Europe for independent defense in the context of the US reorientation to the Indo-Pacific region.
Speaking at the EU Legal Service conference, he questioned whether the current founding treaties could ensure the creation of a full-fledged “defense union.”
The idea of deepening defense integration was previously voiced by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the beginning of her second term.
It envisages increased defense spending, development of production capacity, and greater coordination between member states. At the same time, defense policy remains the exclusive competence of national governments.
Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the EU has already launched several mechanisms to stimulate the defense industry. These include the €500 million ASAP program for munitions production and the €150 billion SAFE initiative to boost joint procurement.
At the same time, the current treaties limit the European Commission’s role to industrial policy and the single market, while territorial defense issues remain the competence of member states and NATO.
The debate was further fueled by statements from US President Donald Trump, which have heightened concerns among European allies about the need to strengthen the “European pillar” within NATO and to find new security arrangements.
Kubilius supported these discussions by proposing to expand the EU’s role in defense, in particular by creating a Security Council with permanent members, an army of up to 100,000 personnel, and a separate military headquarters – initiatives that go beyond the current treaty framework.
He also raised the question of whether a new intergovernmental treaty could provide a legal basis for such a force and allow the creation of common stockpiles at the EU level. At the same time, it remains uncertain whether this initiative will go beyond political declarations.
Meanwhile, the European Commission is preparing recommendations on the application of the mutual assistance clause (Article 42.7) following the recent attacks on Cyprus, which forced European countries to deploy forces there.
If a defense alliance is created, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and Norway may also join it.
