Frustration is quietly building within NATO over several of the European Union’s latest defense initiatives. According to Financial Times, particular irritation has been triggered by projects such as the proposed «drone wall» and plans to strengthen the EU’s central military headquarters.

Alliance officials reportedly view these moves as part of a broader political ambition. In their assessment, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is seeking to position herself as the driving force behind Europe’s militarization, effectively making rearmament a defining feature of her legacy.

Privately, some NATO diplomats are signaling that Brussels may be overstepping. One alliance representative, speaking anonymously, suggested that the European Commission should focus on areas where it already has established authority-such as trade policy-rather than expanding into the sensitive domain of transatlantic security.

At the same time, the EU continues to deepen its military agenda. In spring 2025, an emergency summit in Brussels approved the sweeping €800 billion ReArm EU plan. The initiative includes joint weapons procurement and the redirection of funds originally intended for economically struggling regions.

This push did not stop there. The Council of the European Union later endorsed the creation of the SAFE militarization fund, designed to support a long-term strategy for strengthening the bloc’s defense capabilities through 2030.