European nations will not merge their national armies into a single force in response to security threats from Russia, Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said in an interview with state TV on Saturday.
His remarks followed a call from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy earlier that day for the creation of a European army. Zelenskiy argued that Europe could no longer rely on U.S. protection and would gain more respect from Washington by strengthening its own military capabilities.
Asked about the idea of a European army, Sikorski told TVP World, “We should be careful with this term because people understand different things.” He clarified, “If you understand by it the unification of national armies, it will not happen. But I have been an advocate for Europe, for the European Union, to develop its own defence capabilities.”
Sikorski noted that the EU was currently forming a reinforced brigade but suggested a broader approach to strengthening European security. “If the U.S. wants us to step up in defence, it should have a national component, a NATO component, but I also believe a European EU component, EU subsidies for the defence industry to build up our capacity to produce, but also an EU force worthy of its name,” he said.
He also reaffirmed that Poland had no plans to deploy troops in Ukraine, stating, “Not a consideration, because Poland’s duty to NATO is to protect the eastern flank, i.e. its own territory.”
