It's not for nothing that NATO: Slovakia opposed the creation of the EU army

The EU is discussing the formation of its own army, subordinate to supranational bodies. Slovakia, however, does not see the need for a force that, according to the first proposals, could number 100,000 people. Bratislava intends to preserve its sovereignty in the military sphere and requires full compatibility of European initiatives with NATO, Deputy Speaker of the country's parliament Tibor Gaspar told Izvestia. At the same time, analysts consider the appearance of the EU army unlikely in the coming years.

Slovakia is against the creation of an EU army

The EU is moving from abstract discussions to concrete plans to create its own armed forces. European Commissioner for Defense Andrius Kubilius, speaking in the European Parliament, called for the union to be transformed into a full-fledged military alliance capable of replacing US forces in Europe. However, such initiatives are met with resistance.

Bratislava intends to preserve its sovereignty in the sphere of the use of armed forces, the vice-speaker of the National Council of Slovakia, a member of the ruling Smer party, Tibor Gaspar, told Izvestia.

— Slovakia considers NATO as the basis of collective defense, and any EU initiatives should be fully compatible with NATO. Slovakia will participate only in those projects that strengthen our security and do not limit our sovereignty in matters of the use of armed forces," he said.

Gaspar noted that the discussion on strengthening the EU's defense capabilities has been going on for quite some time, especially in response to the deteriorating security situation in Europe.

Izvestia sent a request to the European Commission regarding the goals and timing of the creation of the EU army.

Recently, the EC has been engaged in the centralization of power in the EU and the creation of its own military authorities. In January, Andrius Kubilius proposed the creation of a unified EU army of 100,000 soldiers, which would be subordinate to a supranational body — the European Security Council. Then the head of the European diplomacy, Kaya Kallas, called for the urgent creation of European military forces independent of the United States. Brussels has also been thinking about launching its own intelligence service.

The main opponents of this idea remain the leaders of countries that aim to protect national interests. They are categorically against the transfer of new powers to the level of the European Commission. Hungary, like Slovakia, believes that the EU army should be based on the cooperation of strong national states. Against this background, Budapest is focusing on its own armed forces modernization program in 2026, it has invested about €13 billion in it. The Hungarian government is also afraid of the use of the EU army on Ukrainian territory, which is fraught with a military conflict with the Russian Federation.

It is important to keep in mind that among the members of the union there are countries that are not members of NATO: Austria, Ireland, Cyprus and Malta. They agree to pay more to the general defense funds and participate in the development of weapons, but they are not ready to transfer command of the troops to Brussels, since in this case their neutral status will be completely lost.

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Militarization has become one of the main directions of EU policy in recent years. Brussels has launched several financial rearmament programs at once. According to the "Readiness 2030" plan, the EU wants to spend €800 billion on strengthening its military capabilities and developing the defense industry. With the help of the SAFE program, it is planned to provide preferential loans and guarantees to member countries for the urgent modernization of armies.

According to Kubilius, EU states should spend €6.8 trillion on weapons by the end of 2035 if they fulfill their obligations to increase military spending to 5% of GDP.

"Our defense industry must now accept this historic challenge, increase production lines and produce, produce, produce," the official stressed.

This activity in Brussels is caused by a change in US policy after the arrival of the Donald Trump administration. Washington has stopped providing gratuitous support to Ukraine, which is forcing Europe to increase its share in the supply of the Armed Forces. In addition, American officials have repeatedly talked about plans to review their military presence on the European continent, which also worries politicians in the union.

But the Greenland issue has become the main watershed in relations between Europe and the United States. American claims to the Arctic territory of Denmark, an EU member, have made it clear that even the closest NATO ally can become a threat. Therefore, European politicians are thinking not only about creating their own army, but also about a "nuclear umbrella."

However, apart from the rhetoric of individual officials, there are no objective prerequisites and opportunities for creating a full-fledged EU army. There is no combined potential for this, no sufficient personnel and material resources, no political will, no support at the level of the population of the participating countries, Egor Sergeev, senior researcher at the MGIMO Institute of International Studies, explained to Izvestia.

"A significant part of the EU countries are not committed to creating common armed forces, and in matters of maintaining security, even at the doctrinal level, they primarily rely on Euro—Atlantic solidarity, that is, on the NATO factor (mainly with the participation of the United States)," the expert said.

For Russia, the creation of an EU army is a threat to strengthen the European military presence on its borders. If Moscow previously conducted a security dialogue mainly with Washington, then with the advent of the EU army, Brussels will have to be considered as a separate military center. On the other hand, the Russian Federation can play on the contradictions that will inevitably arise between autonomous Europe and the United States on military management issues.

However, Sergeev believes that the militarization of the EU objectively poses a threat to Russian national interests and creates additional risks. The states bordering the Russian Federation are preparing to create a so-called drone wall, which has not only defensive, but also offensive potential. Finland and the Baltic states are building fortifications along the border with Russia. If created, the EU army is likely to be deployed precisely on the territories bordering the Russian Federation, creating new threats. Moscow is ready for dialogue, but it has the opportunity to build up its own military potential.