Calls for greater European self-sufficiency in defence and less reliance on transatlantic allies are gaining ground in the European Parliament. MEPs from across the main political groups and 11 member states are pushing a self-defence strategy to prove NATO chief Mark Rutte wrong when he told EU to “keep on dreaming” if it thinks it can defend itself without the US.
Thirty MEPs from the S&D, Greens-EFA, EPP, and Renew on Thursday presented the new European Defence Union group to call on member state governments to take responsibility for defence and security. “We need EU forces that are separable from NATO,” said MEP Reinier van Lanschot (Greens-EFA/NLD).
Member states asleep
While stating that Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius is doing a good job in his portfolio, the group stressed that this union will not be just a theoretical product but a matter of survival.
“If we compare the situation two years ago there have been many changes. We need to organise ourselves more quickly,” said Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann (Renew/DEU), Chair of Committee on Security and Defence (SEDE). According to her, the politically heterogenous group is “tired of seeing some states continue to sleep”.
The push for greater defence autonomy reflects growing uncertainty about the long-term role of the United States in European security. US President Donald Trump is currently considering reducing the American military presence in Germany. Around 5,000 troops could be withdrawn within the next six to twelve months.
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NATO as a backbone
The move would mark a further adjustment of America’s long-standing force posture in Europe. It comes at a time of ongoing debate about burden-sharing within NATO and Europe’s own defence capabilities. The discussion has been further fuelled by earlier remarks from NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. In January, he warned during an address to the Parliament that the EU was “dreaming” if it believed it could defend itself without US support.
For the group, however, NATO remains the ’backbone’ of the European defence. Even though there are “big problems with the White House”, Ms Strack-Zimmermann claimed. “You can see what’s happening now in Ukraine and how close the President of the United States is to (Russian President Vladimir) Putin,” she told EU Perspectives.
We must therefore prepare in case Trump changes his mind about his geopolitical alliance strategies, she added. “The main pillar, the United States, has changed a lot.”
Never too late?
The group’s initiative aims to raise concrete awareness among European states that are not directly affected by the Russian threat. “We really must prepare and do everything possible to work together as Europeans. Including with countries like the UK and Norway,” Ms Strack-Zimmermann stated.
“It’s very late, but I’m always a little optimistic,” remarked the chair of the SEDE Committee, expressing hope that it’s not too late for preventative, rather than reactive approach to European defence.
Regarding next steps, the group plans to put pressure on national politicians and defence ministers, starting with their meeting in Cyprus in two weeks. “We drafted a letter asking governments to take action. Many issues have been threatened by national interests, which continue to be a problem,” she concluded.
