Overview
- EU Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius publicly urged creating a standing European military force of roughly 100,000 troops that could replace U.S. units in Europe if needed.
- He also proposed forming a European Security Council of about 10–12 members with a mix of permanent and rotating seats to accelerate continent-wide defence decisions.
- Kubilius said the council’s first priority should be shifting the trajectory of the war in Ukraine, warning that unchanged support levels risk a Russian victory.
- He pressed Europe to resolve core readiness questions, including a European pillar within NATO, a designated European commander, robust command-and-control, and a dedicated headquarters.
- He reported heavy demand for coordinated defence investment, noting the EU’s SAFE loan program is oversubscribed by about 25% on an initial €150 billion with 691 project applications, while emphasizing these ideas remain proposals requiring political agreement.