“Fundamentally failed”: This is what an expert says about the idea of forming a single European army

Published at: 29/03/2024 09:59 PM

The former advisor to the Government of the United States (USA) and expert in international security, Bart Szewczyk, pointed out that the idea of confirming a single European army would bring many problems when it comes to establishing a single command for so many forces with different abilities, natures and functions.

The expert stated that the idea of a joint military force in the European Union (EU), although it seems attractive, “is a dead end and fundamentally flawed, because there are different views on a series of critical military issues,” Sputnik says on its website, citing an opinion article by Szewczyk for the magazine Foreign Policy.

Szewczyk indicates that any such army, if created, would be subject to the veto of France, Germany, Hungary or any other member state, which could have its own perspective on issues of the use of force.

“With the lives of thousands of its citizens at risk, it's practically inconceivable that Paris, Berlin or Warsaw would want to send their soldiers under the EU flag without having a final veto on the decision,” Szewczyk observed.

For the columnist, the idea of a European army is a “dead end” and a joint and centralized European defense “will not happen and should not happen”.

In this regard, he suggests that, if Europe wants to become an effective military power, it must focus on building national capacities and demanding accountability from member States.

The former US advisor stressed that, even if such an idea is realized, it is practically a fact that will result in “endless fights, bitter grudges and other friction.”

Previously, the head of diplomacy of the European Union, Josep Borrell, considered the idea of dismantling the armed forces of the 27 member states to create a single pan-European army unfeasible.

Mazo News Team