EU’s Chief Diplomat Dismisses Idea of Creating Separate European Army

The European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, dismisses the idea of creating a separate European army.

She stressed that European countries already have their own armed forces within NATO.

Kallas made this statement on January 29 in Brussels before the start of the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting, responding to journalists’ questions about the Ukrainian president’s initiative to form a European army, which could be based on the Ukrainian army, according to a correspondent for Radio Liberty.

“Every European country has its own army, and the armies of 23 countries are also part of NATO structures. So I cannot imagine that countries will create a separate European army,” Kallas said.

The creation of a parallel separate European army could complicate the command structure, she added.

“It is clear to me that in the military sphere there must be a very clear and understandable chain of command so that in case of something, it is clear who gives orders to whom. If we create parallel structures, it will only blur the picture and in crisis situations, orders may simply ‘get lost between chairs,’” the diplomat said.

Recently, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte also spoke out against the idea of creating a separate European army, saying that such a move could weaken Europe’s security and play into Russia’s hands.

On January 23, President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke in favor of the Ukrainian army, numbering one million, becoming the basis of the European joint forces.

At the same time, this depends on whether there is a desire to create such an army. Zelenskyy previously supported this idea, pointing out that Kyiv had proposed it earlier.

On January 12, European Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrius Kubilius supported the idea of creating a European Security Council against the backdrop of the threat from Russia and the position of the United States, which insists that Europe take more responsibility for its own defense.

Last year, the European Commission presented the “Re-arm Europe/Readiness 2030” initiative, which provides for increased defense spending and significant investments in the European defense industrial complex.

EU Chief Diplomat Kaja Kallas cited threats from Russia as the main reason for developing this defense roadmap.