Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said Europe could have a joint army by 2030, although he suggested such forces would most likely be concentrated on the eastern flank.

Sikorski said he expects some form of combined European force to emerge by the end of the decade, potentially limited to the Baltic states and other countries on NATO’s eastern flank.

European Commissioner for Defense Andrius Kubilius had earlier proposed creating a permanent force of up to 100,000 troops. In his view, such a formation could become one of the key elements of European Union security.

However, there is no consensus within the EU on the idea. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has argued that a separate European army is unnecessary because the armed forces of many member states are already integrated into NATO’s collective defense system. She also said that creating a parallel military force under EU control appears unrealistic.

The debate over a joint European army has intensified since the start of the conflict in Ukraine, amid growing tensions with Russia and repeated calls from U. S. President Donald Trump for European allies to increase defense spending.