Kaja Kallas Emphasises National Control Over Defence, Warns Against Parallel EU Army Structures | Video | X @clashreport
European Commission Vice-President Kaja Kallas has reiterated that defence remains primarily a national responsibility, while urging greater coordination among EU member states to strengthen Europe’s overall security role within NATO. Speaking on Europe’s evolving defence posture, Kallas stressed that while individual member states maintain sovereignty over their armed forces, stronger cooperation between them is essential. She noted that a more coordinated approach would also reinforce the European pillar within NATO.
“Defence is a national competence, and we are trying to push member states to work more jointly together, because if the member states are strong, the European pillar in NATO is strong,” she said.Kallas also pushed back against proposals for an additional or centralized European army, arguing that such a move could create operational and structural confusion. She pointed out that EU member states already maintain their own national armies, many of which are simultaneously part of NATO.
“If you allocate this army to NATO, then you can’t use it elsewhere. You can’t also create another army, a parallel one,” she explained, warning that duplicating military structures could reduce flexibility and efficiency.