Spain has called for the creation of a new European military amid growing fears Donald Trump could abandon NATO and depart the continent uncovered to Vladimir Putin. Jose Manuel Albares, Spain’s overseas minister, said the European Union could no longer rely on the US-led navy alliance for its security ensures as tensions between Washington and its European allies deepen.
In explosive remarks that will alarm NATO traditionalists, Mr Albares said Europe must become “free of dependence” on America and construct its own deterrent pressure succesful of standing up to Russia without US backing.
He instructed Politico: “We can not be waking up every morning questioning what the US will do next…our residents deserve higher.”
“This is the moment of the sovereignty and independence of Europe.”
The intervention comes as European leaders scramble to prepare for the possibility of Mr Trump dramatically reducing US military commitments across the continent.
Mr Trump has repeatedly attacked NATO allies over defence spending and has demanded that members commit 5% of GDP to their armed forces. Spain has refused, placing Madrid directly in the firing line.
The US president has reportedly threatened punitive tariffs against Spain and hinted American troops could be withdrawn from bases there. He has also clashed bitterly with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, one of Europe’s most outspoken critics of Mr Trump.
Mr Albares warned Europe could not allow its security to be “held to ransom” by political shifts in Washington.
“Free of dependence means to be free of coercion, whether it comes to tariffs or the use of military threat,” he said.
The Spanish minister argued the EU should effectively create its own version of NATO’s famous Article 5 mutual defence pact — the principle stating that an attack on one member is an attack on all.
“The magic of NATO is that you are in NATO and nothing happens because no one dares to try to check if Article 5 really works,” he said.
“That’s what we have to recreate — the deterrence. That if you want to mess with me, go somewhere else. Because we will stand together.”
The comments are likely to ignite major divisions inside Europe.
While Brussels has increasingly discussed “strategic autonomy” since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, many governments stay deeply sceptical about changing NATO constructions with an EU military.
Critics argue Europe still lacks the navy capabilities, coordination and political unity required to defend itself against a main Russian risk without American support.
Although the EU already has a mutual defence clause under Article 42.7 of its treaties, insiders admit it carries nowhere close to the same deterrent weight as Nato.
Instead, most European governments favour strengthening present national militaries within NATO rather than building a rival command construction.
European international locations have already agreed main will increase in defence spending, with billions set to be poured into air defence systems, long-range missiles and intelligence capabilities as fears over Russian aggression grow.
EU overseas and defence ministers are expected to maintain recent talks on navy independence in Brussels this week.
The debate comes as relations between Europe and Moscow stay close to breaking level more than 4 years after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
EU overseas coverage chief Kaja Kallas also dismissed a reported Russian proposal for former German chancellor Gerhard Schröder to act as a negotiator between Moscow and the bloc.
She said Mr Schroder had successfully become a “high-level lobbyist” for Russian state-owned corporations and questioned why Europe would enable the Kremlin to select its consultant.
Source hyperlink
