NIGERIA TV INFO — INTERNATIONAL / EUROPE NEWS

Spain Calls for Creation of Joint European Army to Strengthen EU Defence

Davos — Spain has urged the European Union to move toward establishing a joint European army, arguing that a unified military force would be a stronger and more effective deterrent than the bloc’s current system of separate national armies.

Spain’s Foreign Minister, José Manuel Albares, made the call in an interview with Reuters on Wednesday ahead of high-level discussions at the World Economic Forum in Davos. He said Europe must demonstrate its ability to defend itself against both military threats and economic coercion in an increasingly uncertain global environment.

According to Albares, the EU should begin by deepening integration within its defence industry, including pooling military assets and coordinating production and procurement. This, he said, could later evolve into what he described as a “coalition of the willing” among EU member states ready to take defence cooperation further.

He acknowledged concerns over whether European citizens would be willing to mobilise militarily under a joint framework but insisted that collective action at the EU level offers a stronger and more realistic foundation than individual national efforts.

“The concern over whether European citizens would be willing to assemble militarily is a legitimate debate,” Albares said. “But the chance of assembling a critical mass is higher as a bloc than on a national level. A joint effort would be more efficient than 27 separate national armies.”

The proposal comes amid renewed debate within Europe over security, defence spending, and strategic autonomy, as EU leaders weigh how best to respond to evolving geopolitical pressures.