How should Europe defend itself?
US President Trump is giving Nato the cold shoulder, alienating the US's allies and negotiating with Putin on the war in Ukraine without involving the Europeans. Both the EU and the individual member states are mobilising funds for defence, Paris is extending its nuclear umbrella and London is forming new alliances. The media discuss Europe's security model in transition.
Joint European army unlikely
For Newsweek Polska, the creation of a joint European defence force is an unattainable dream:
“There are good reasons why the idea of a joint army seems attractive at first glance. Europe's defence is inadequate. With joint procurement we'd get much more bang for our buck. The creation of a European army would also send a strong political signal and be a major step towards unity. However, it's highly unlikely that such a project will ever see the light of day. The list of 'buts' is much longer. National interests and a deep commitment to sovereignty will probably always prevail.”
Well connected and resilient
Europe is finally discovering its own power, writes the Frankfurter Rundschau:
“The new closing of ranks between London, Paris and Berlin is a hopeful sign for the whole world. This is also the view of Japan, South Korea and Australia, who joined the rounds of talks to which the British Prime Minister Keir Starmer had once again invited them over the weekend. ... Starmer is planning security guarantees in the event that a ceasefire signed by Ukraine is broken again by Russia. ... France flew an Awacs reconnaissance aircraft accompanied by two fighter jets over the Black Sea at the weekend. ... Astonishingly bad news is coming from Europe - for Putin and for Trump.”
Coalitions of the willing needed
The path taken by London and Paris is the right one, writes historian and writer Timothy Garton Ash in La Repubblica:
“Faced with the radical unreliability of Trump, we do need to think afresh about extending the reach of French and British nuclear deterrence. The EU is now becoming a significant player in the field of defence, especially in supporting Ukraine and for defence procurement. And because the EU and Nato both contain Putin-friendly blockers such as Hungary's Viktor Orbán, some of the cutting-edge defence commitments will require 'coalitions of the willing' like that for Ukraine on which the British prime minister, Keir Starmer, has been working closely with the French president.”
Spend more on defence but exit Nato
Eldiario.es calls for complete separation from the US in security matters:
“Europe needs comprehensive strategic sovereignty, including over defence. ... Simply increasing the defence budget without making any kind of decision about our relationship with the US won't change the problem because it won't make us militarily independent of the American empire. If anyone believes that spending two or three percent of GDP on defence will change anything in Spain, then their will is clouding their analytical abilities. ... Yes to more defence to secure strategic sovereignty and independence from the US, but in exchange for an exit plan from Nato.”