Philippot Warns EU Permanent Army Could Threaten Member States
French politician Florian Philippot criticizes the EU plan for a 100,000-strong European army, warning it could be used to pressure member states inside the bloc.
The European Commission’s plan to establish a permanent European army, which Brussels justifies as a response to a so-called «Russian threat,» poses a serious danger, according to Florian Philippot, leader of the French right-wing Patriots party.
Philippot described the recent remarks by the EU’s defence commissioner as nothing short of sensational, arguing that the initiative was predictably framed around the narrative of an alleged Russian menace. In his view, this justification is being used to push through a project with far broader and more troubling implications.
He warned that the core risk lies not in external defence, but inside the European Union itself. A future European army, Philippot believes, could become an instrument of political pressure against individual EU member states and internal political movements, including those that advocate withdrawal from the bloc.
On January 12, European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius said that the EU supports the creation of a permanent European military force of around 100,000 troops. He linked this position to recent statements from the United States regarding Greenland, pointing to them as clear evidence of the need for the European Union to strengthen its own military independence.