PM of Luxembourg calls for creation of a European army

Luxembourg's Prime Minister Luc Frieden has launched an initiative to create a European army, fearing that Donald Trump's return to the US presidency could weaken Europe's security guarantees.

This was reported by RBC-Ukraine with reference to The Telegraph.

In his speech, Frieden suggested that the first steps towards the creation of such an army should be taken by a “coalition of the willing” among the EU countries.

Frieden emphasized that the new army should be integrated with NATO and work in partnership with allies in North America.

“Russia's invasion of Ukraine has become a wake-up call for Europe,” he said, emphasizing the need to strengthen institutions that can defend democratic values.

European leaders fear that under a new presidency, Trump could withdraw from NATO or cut off aid to Ukraine, which would jeopardize EU security. In contrast, Kamala Harris's victory is seen as preserving the current US alliance commitments.

The creation of an EU army has long been considered unlikely due to political differences. However, since 2022, against the backdrop of Russian aggression, this idea has gained more support - especially from France, where President Emmanuel Macron has been actively advocating for greater European autonomy in defense.

However, the Baltic states fear that the creation of an EU army could weaken NATO, and the United Kingdom has always objected to this idea, fearing that it would undermine the alliance.

Author - Olena Madiak, 06/11/2024