The EU Isn't Raising an Army -- Yet

The European Commission is cautiously dipping a toe into the void left by U.S. President Donald Trump when he deleted an affirmation of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's mutual defense commitment from his recent speech at NATO headquarters. And it's not just an initiative of Brussels bureaucrats: Germany, too, is clearly looking to conduct a more independent defense policy that isn't all about being a good U.S. ally.

The Commission on Wednesday extended its series of reflection papers on the future of Europe with a paper on offering scenarios for closer defense cooperation. "The Transatlantic relationship is evolving," says the document, signed by two Commission Vice Presidents, Federica Mogherini and Jyrki Katainen. "The onus of improving European security lies first of all in European hands." This statement echoes German Chancellor Angela Merkel's recent remarks about the need for Europeans to take their destiny into their own hands, and Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker's words last year that "Europe can no longer afford to piggy-back on the military might of others."