Speaking at an annual security conference in northern Sweden, Kubilius floated the idea of creating “powerful, permanent European armed forces of 100,000 troops” as a possible way to better protect Europe, LRT reported.
“How do we replace the 100,000 permanent American troops that form the backbone of Europe’s armed forces?” he asked in his speech in Sweden.
Ideas about a centralized European army have been discussed for years, but have largely failed to gain support because countries are reluctant to give up control over their own armed forces, the article said.
At the same time, the United States is pressing European allies to take on more responsibility for their own security and has hinted that it could withdraw troops from the continent in order to focus on China.
“At times like these, we must not avoid the most important questions related to our institutional readiness for defense,” Kubilius said.
In his speech, the European commissioner also advocated the creation of a European Security Council — a body of major EU states that could also include the United Kingdom.
According to Kubilius, such a body could help speed up decision-making on European defense.
“The European Security Council could consist of the main permanent members, as well as several rotating members. In total, about 10 to 12 members whose task would be to discuss the most important defense issues,” the commissioner said.
On Jan. 10, Spain’s foreign minister, Jose Manuel Albares, said Europe must unite its defense industry and move toward creating its own army “without dependence on third parties.”
In an interview with EFE, Albares said that “a change in the rules of the international order” is currently taking place. As examples, he cited a U.S. operation in Venezuela and U.S. President Donald Trump’s claims regarding Greenland.
In February 2025, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at the Munich Security Conference that Europe needs to create its own armed forces.
“Let’s be honest: today we cannot rule out the possibility that America may say ‘no’ to Europe on issues that threaten it. Many leaders have spoken about a Europe that needs its own army. And I truly believe the time has come. Europe’s armed forces must be created. Europe must have its own European army. We must create united armed forces of Europe,” the Ukrainian president said at the time.