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Spain’s foreign minister has doubled down on a push many of us saw coming: a so-called “European Army” that would act “regardless” of the United States. The idea sounds bold in Brussels cocktail circles and convenient back home when Madrid faces heat over its defense bills. But bold talk does not fix broken promises — and Spain’s recent record on NATO spending makes this pitch look more like shirking than leadership.
What José Manuel Albares is Really Saying
Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares told a public broadcaster that Europe needs “common security” and a common deterrent, even if it means acting apart from the U.S. Those are pretty strong words. He also said the new force wouldn’t replace national armies or “go against NATO.” Translation: build a new bureaucracy, keep national armies, and don’t blame us when budgets don’t add up.
Spain’s NATO Spending: Talk vs. Reality
Here’s the rub. Spain has been criticized for failing to meet NATO spending expectations, yet Madrid now wants to lead an EU Army. Spain claims its defense posture meets NATO obligations and points to improved capability figures. But critics — including the President at the White House — have not been shy about calling out shortfalls. You can’t trumpet “European sovereignty” while treating collective defense like a charity you didn’t mean to donate to.
Why This Matters at the NATO Summit
The NATO Summit in Ankara is supposed to focus on unity and burden-sharing. Instead, Madrid’s EU Army pitch risks opening a divide. If Spain and other EU capitals pursue parallel forces without firmer national spending, NATO risks duplication, weak coordination, and a distracted alliance. Europe should strengthen NATO, not carve out redundant institutions that let free-riding continue.
A Better Path: Meet Commitments First
If Spain wants more say in European defense, there’s a simple route: meet the commitments already on the table. Boost defense budgets, deliver promised capabilities, and then talk about new structures. Until then, calls for a European Army sound like theater for domestic politics — and a bad one at that. Europe needs more muscle and less theater. Washington and NATO allies should push for true burden-sharing, not polite rebrandings of the status quo.
