Former European Parliament Chief Brexit Negotiator Guy Verhofstadt has renewed his calls for a “European Defence Union,” advocating for shared resources and common political structures to lead it. In a Tuesday post on X (formerly Twitter), Verhofstadt renewed his push for a joint defense agreement while describing Europe’s current efforts as “backward thinking” and “dangerous.”
“We need a European Defence Union with [its] own resources to finance it and common political structures to lead it. Everything less is useless… and dangerous,” wrote Verhofstadt. He further criticized Europe’s stance on national sovereignty, stating it “criminally neglects our common security.”
Verhofstadt’s comments come amidst increasing NATO activity in Europe. The alliance has been expanding its military presence, with plans to deploy American troops to the continent should a potential conflict with Russia arise. NATO is also establishing new “land corridors” across central Europe to ensure rapid troop mobilization, aiming to circumvent bureaucratic hurdles.
NATO officials have emphasized the need to strengthen Europe’s defenses, citing warnings that Russia could become a credible threat within a few years. The alliance is exploring various countermeasures to bolster its position, including strategies to address logistical challenges and communication disruptions in the event of an attack.
However, Verhofstadt’s call for a defense union will likely encounter resistance from some EU member states. These states have traditionally been wary of ceding sovereignty to Brussels.
