Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto on June 6 called for the establishment of a new military alliance in Europe with the participation of countries inside and outside the European Union (EU), to cope with many security threats and strengthen the continent's role in the collective defense system.
In an interview with the US media, Mr. Crosetto emphasized that Europe needs to build its own defense. According to his proposal, 27 EU member states and 13 other countries in the continent, including the UK, Norway, Turkey and Ukraine, should join a new military alliance based on the principle of voluntariness.
Mr. Crosetto affirmed that this initiative is not intended to replace NATO but to strengthen the European pillar within the existing alliance. He also said that NATO should expand its membership scope outside Europe and North America, including Australia, Brazil, India, Japan and South Korea.
According to the Italian Defense Minister, NATO was established to bring safety and stability to a part of the world, while the current context requires an organization capable of ensuring broader security.
This proposal was first made by Mr. Crosetto in a letter to European Defense Ministers and EU and NATO leaders in April. In the letter, he said that European security goes beyond the EU borders and requires the participation of all partners with shared strategic interests. He also emphasized that Ukraine, whether not yet a member of the EU or NATO, will continue to play the role of a key frontline of European security.
Although the possibility of deployment in the near future is assessed as not high, the proposal shows that Europe is more proactive in strengthening its defense capabilities after the war in Ukraine and many years of disproportionate military investment.
The initiative also reflects the seriousness of European leaders in the face of US President Donald Trump's continuous criticism of European allies and demanding them take on more security responsibilities. If realized, this model will create a defense structure led by Europe, in parallel with NATO.
The idea of strengthening common defense capabilities is not new. French President Emmanuel Macron has long promoted the concept of "strategic autonomy" of Europe in the military field.
EU Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius once proposed the establishment of a unified European army. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani also called for the building of a common European army to maintain peace and prevent conflict.
Currently, Italy has cooperated with France, Germany, Poland and the UK to form a new military cooperation mechanism on a smaller scale, without the participation of the United States.
