05 January 2026, 19:52

Can Europe build a unified army? An expert weighs in

Elena Kondratieva-Salguero [Screengrab/BelTA]

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MINSK, 5 January (BelTA) – The creation of a unified European army is impossible, Editor-in-Chief of the Words and Meanings almanac Elena Kondratieva-Salguero (France) said in a recent episode of BelTA’s YouTube project “V teme” [On Point].

The analyst poured cold water on French President Emmanuel Macron’s statement about the establishment of a genuinely European army to defend the continent. “I don’t believe it’s feasible and I am not alone in this. I do not believe for a moment in the possibility of a unified European army. Under whose command? With what reserves? With what industrial base?” she asked.

Elena Kondratieva-Salguero recalled that Germany, Europe’s leading and most industrially powerful nation, once actively pushed France to dismantle its nuclear energy sector under the banner of a green agenda. Today, she noted, France’s once-dominant military industry is under pressure and this pressure comes not just from Germany.

“Since 2023, Mr. Macron has spoken tirelessly about transitioning to a war economy and a wartime footing. I must point out some very uncomfortable facts. From then until now, not a single French defense company has received a single order from this so-called unified European army,” she stated. “Under EU law, 35% of arms may be sourced from abroad, as was decided by Ursula [von der Leyen]. And of course, who is producing them? The United States.”

She added: “It is simply absurd, completely unthinkable: 65% of all existing and supposedly effective French laws are, broadly speaking, inspired or dictated by the European Union. What kind of sovereignty of any country can we even speak of? And what kind of unified European army can we possibly discuss?”

According to the analyst, even high-ranking military officials refuse to entertain the idea of a joint European force. “Europe has grown accustomed to a learned helplessness within NATO, assuming the U.S. will always back it up,” she argued. “When they were suddenly wagged a finger at (for my part, I still doubt Trump will fully act on his threats, but he has his own reasons for this performance), Europe finally realized it must, like any normal country, maintain its own capable army and reserves in good order.”