Former U.S. President Donald Trump, set alarm bells ringing in Europe, when he suggested in a campaign speech that he would not protect any NATO member country that did not contribute enough funds to the organization, and that he would not care what Russia did with these countries. European countries were already worried about the possibility of a second Trump term, but these latest statements in early 2024, raised the level of these concerns. However, the reality is that despite the fact that the invasion of Ukraine was a wake-up call to increase its defense spending, Europe remains overly dependent on the United States for protection. Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen recently warned that "Russia could put NATO's mutual defense clause to the test within 3 to 5 years." This clause to which the minister refers is that if one NATO member is attacked, all would defend it. So, the idea that Russia could attack is becoming more and more present. But the doubt whether Europe can defend itself is growing. That is why, the idea of a European army, that is, a single army composed of soldiers from European countries or from the European Union, has emerged again. So, the questions are: why could a European army never be realized? Why is this idea not new, and what are the obstacles to making it a reality?
Sources of interest:
- Euronews (2024). Fact-check: Is the EU setting up a European army?
www.euronews.c...
- Foreign Policy (2024). Why a European Army Makes No Sense
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- Foreign Policy (2024). Why Europe Can’t Get Its Military Act Together
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#economicsnation #europe
16 сен 2024
