Poland's Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski dismissed the idea of a common European army, emphasizing that European nations should focus on strengthening their individual national militaries instead. In an interview with state-run TVP World on Sunday, Sikorski said that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's recent proposal at the Munich Security Conference for a joint EU army would not materialize. "Europe should implement solutions that will strengthen national armies," he said, cautioning that the term "European army" is often misunderstood. "If by this, you mean the unification of national armies, it will not happen. But I support the European Union developing its own defense capabilities." Sikorski stressed that while defense cooperation within NATO remains crucial, he also sees the value of an EU-supported defense initiative to boost arms production and enhance European military capabilities. "If the US wants us to strengthen our defense, it should be a domestic component, a NATO component, but I am also thinking about the European component of the EU—EU subsidies for the arms industry to increase production capacity, as well as EU forces worthy of their name," he added. On the issue of Poland's involvement in Ukraine, Sikorski made it clear that sending Polish troops was not an option. "Poland's duty to NATO is to protect its eastern flank, meaning its own territory," he said. His remarks come amid growing concerns in Europe about US President Donald Trump's approach to the Ukraine war. European leaders worry that decisions regarding Ukraine could be made without the participation of the European Union or even Kyiv, and many expect Trump to reduce US troop presence in Europe if re-elected. Sikorski, who previously advocated for EU sanctions on Russia and a 5,000-strong EU mechanized brigade, reaffirmed that Poland remains committed to military investment, spending 4% of its GDP on defense. He urged other NATO members to follow suit and increase their defense budgets. — Agencies
