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Recent history has swept away the geopolitical illusions of past decades. The idea that the continent could live in an eternal bubble of peace, entirely delegating its security to the United States while dismantling its own military capabilities, has proven to be a tragic strategic mistake. Today, Europe faces the urgent and unavoidable need to build a genuine capacity for defence and deterrence.
However, a realist and conservative approach requires us to clarify one fundamental point from the outset: building European defence does not mean surrendering national sovereignty to a bureaucratic superstate in Brussels, nor does it mean creating a “single army” managed by a central ministry detached from the will of individual states. National security remains the foremost and most fundamental prerogative of sovereign nations.
The true strength of European defence lies in interoperability and strategic cooperation among sovereign nations. Building a strong European pillar within the Atlantic Alliance (NATO) is the most effective way to guarantee the security of the continent. Member states must first and foremost honour their financial commitments to defence spending, bringing military expenditure to 2% of GDP and allocating these resources to the modernisation of their national armed forces.
A fundamental pillar of this new paradigm must be the autonomy of the European defence industry. Today, too many European countries purchase weapons systems and technologies from actors outside the EU, creating harmful strategic dependencies. A strong Europe must develop a Defence Industrial Policy that supports the continent’s companies and production chains, creating highly skilled jobs, stimulating technological research, and ensuring industrial sovereignty.
Furthermore, European defence cannot be limited solely to the eastern border. A conservative and strategic vision must pay equal attention to the “Southern Front” and the wider Mediterranean, where political instability, the protection of maritime trade routes, and the control of irregular migration flows represent direct threats to the national security of member states.
Common defence means industrial cooperation, tactical coordination, joint protection of external borders, and integrated exercises among national armed forces. Only by starting again from the pride and responsibility of individual states can we build a Europe that is truly respected on the global stage, capable of defending its values, its citizens, and its roots.
Arnone Giuseppe