In a significant policy shift, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has called for the creation of a European “defense union” to reduce the bloc’s reliance on the United States. Her remarks, made during a press conference in Brussels on March 9, underscore growing concerns within the EU about Washington’s commitment to NATO, particularly after US Vice President J.D. Vance’s controversial speech at the Munich Security Conference in February.

Von der Leyen framed the call for a defense union as a response to what she described as a “new era of harsh geostrategic competition.” She emphasized that the traditional notions of sovereignty and security commitments were being increasingly questioned and that international alliances were becoming more transactional. The comments reflect mounting unease in European capitals over the future of transatlantic defense relations, especially as the US political landscape shifts.

The European Commission president’s proposal comes amid broader fears that the United States may no longer be willing to bear the security burden for its European allies as it has in the past. US President Donald Trump repeatedly pressured European NATO members to increase their defense spending, and his return to the political stage has reignited fears that Washington might disengage from European security commitments. His recent remarks-“If they don’t pay, I’m not going to defend them. No, I’m not going to defend them”-have only reinforced those concerns.

Von der Leyen pointed to the recently announced €800 billion ($868 billion) rearmament plan as a “historic” step toward strengthening the EU’s military capabilities. She argued that........

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