63 % der Franzosen befürworten eine europäische Armee
https://www.lejdd.fr/Societe/defense-63-des-francais-favorables-a-la-creation-dune-armee-europeenne-173430
Von goldstarflag
63 % der Franzosen befürworten eine europäische Armee
https://www.lejdd.fr/Societe/defense-63-des-francais-favorables-a-la-creation-dune-armee-europeenne-173430
Von goldstarflag
36 Kommentare
Europe really looked at the last decade and said maybe relying on vibes and NATO alone isn’t the long term strategy.
Against a geopolitical backdrop marked by turmoil in the Middle East and the protracted war in Ukraine, Europe stands alone. According to a study conducted by Ifop for the Jean-Jaurès Foundation, a majority of French are in favor of strengthening the unity among EU states around a common defence architecture.
Since the outbreak of war in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the prospect of a conventional conflict on its soil has resurfaced, overshadowing the “peace dividends” that followed the collapse of the USSR. Added to this are the war in Iran and, since Donald Trump’s return to the White House, the questioning of NATO. Published in December 2025, the U.S. security doctrine criticizes a “declining” Europe for “not shouldering its fair share” of the burden within the Atlantic alliance.
In 2025, the European Commission announced the launch of “ReArm Europe,” since renamed “Readiness 2030,” an €800 billion investment plan to strengthen member states’ military capabilities over five years. Could this lead to the revival of the abandoned European Defense Community project? In the 1950s, the idea of creating a European army under NATO’s leadership had sparked public outrage, leading to the National Assembly’s rejection of the proposal in 1954.
With this in mind, the idea of EU-wide nuclear deterrence appeals to 58% of those surveyed. On March 2, Emmanuel Macron announced the concept of “forward deterrence” in partnership with eight European states, to host strategic air forces—specifically Rafale fighter jets equipped with ASMP-A missiles—on their soil. There is particularly strong consensus on this issue among respondents aligned with the Socialist Party (84%), Renaissance (76%), and La France Insoumise (75%). Only 45% of National Rally supporters are in favor, as they are more attached to French sovereignty regarding strategic armaments.
The survey reveals underlying support for the idea of European strategic autonomy. Forty-eight percent of French people say they favor a European defense system independent of NATO, 28% support the renationalization of defense responsibilities, and only 24% favor maintaining the Atlantic Alliance as it is.
On several occasions, Donald Trump has referred to NATO as a “paper tiger,” adopting the phrase once used by Mao Zedong to describe the United States. The White House leader’s barely concealed interest in Greenland, the end of direct U.S. military aid to Ukraine starting in the summer of 2025, and Europe’s refusal to support Uncle Sam’s war in Iran are all cracks that weaken the alliance and its Article 5, which commits member countries to providing military assistance to a country under attack.
During his speech at the Sorbonne in 2017, Emmanuel Macron championed European defence, declaring that “when it comes to defence, our goal must be for Europe to have the capacity to act autonomously […] and it must therefore be equipped with a joint rapid reaction force, a common defense budget, and a common doctrine for action.” Nine years later, European countries’ military spending accounts for 30% of global military spending.
It’s easy to be in favor of a European army in principle. But it’s way harder to agree on how to fund and command it.
France gets it. Most European citizens want a European Army because spending is not the issue. What Europe needs is integration. More fragmented spending delivers no security and reinforces the dependency on the US. It is a waste of money. In fact, it makes the situation even worse and more fragmented; which is why Trump is pushing it.
Ok, now ask if the French if it would be okay for this European army to have a Spanish commander-in-chief and German tank manufacturer. I’ll wait.
63% of French in favour of European Army as long as they’re the leader of said European Army and all European army products are French made
Is this „European army“ ready to take orders in French from Paris? If this is not the case, she is a stillborn.
Yeah, nope. More than 50% of the population is voting for populists parties from left and right with the will of destroying EU, this 63% of people is total BS.
Different countries have different duties and obligations throughout the world. What’s gonna happen when french ex colonies need help ?
Yawn. People keep talking about this European army time and time again, but nobody ever presents a good plan on how it’d be funded, who would be in control, how key decisions like when to go to war would be made, what would happen if that decision is made but some countries object, where the soldiers would be based and so on.
Thing is, building a European army without a common Foreign policy is not achievable. Furthermore, a lot of other political and doctrinal issues have to be solved. It is not solely technical debate, like the choice between wheeled and tracked vehicles, there are doctrinal and political arguments behind it. And as a French, no problem having a German tank or a Spanish general. But, no US made planes or hardware and French nuclear deterrence doctrine is not negotiable.
We should first create a euro corps designed as the art 42 military means, with troops provided for by state members, and functioning wages paid for by the Union. Those troops should be station in Baltic countries, Romania, Poland, Greece and Finland.
Also f the jdd far right propaganda tool.
What language would this European army speak?
My only request is that only french be allowed inside the procurement office
Here is the link of the survey in french :
[https://www.jean-jaures.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Enquete_Avenir_europe.pdf](https://www.jean-jaures.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Enquete_Avenir_europe.pdf)
The other questions were :
* The extension of the French “nuclear umbrella” to all countries of the European Union : **58%**
* The creation of a European Foreign Minister : **57%**
* The creation of a European Minister of Economy and Finance : **55%**
* The election of a President of Europe by direct universal suffrage : **55%**
Also, I see a lot of people in the comments saying that the french only want to be the leader said European army but, if that was the case, they wouldn’t agree to, for example, the election of a president of Europe by direct universal suffrage.
The professional army of all EU states together is somewhere around 1.25-1.5m. If you would loop in th UK, it would be closer to 1.4-1.6m.
That is a substantial force. All highly trained and I theory using the most modern kit.
Yes, in these relatively unsure times due to the mango in chief and ruzzia, I think it would be sensible to have a European army. No, I’m not advocating that each country should abolish their own army and only have a pan-european one but a closer collaboration and really integrated and unified armed branch would make sense.
“In favor” hits different when it’s you or your kids that have to go die in a polish ditch
Yeah. Van Der Leyen will choose to send their kids to death.
The French (army & people) really do have an hilariously unfair reputation considering they’ve consistently been a top tier army and resilient people, except for that one time. Shit is completely detached from reality, but very funny.
Who leads it?
We already have a European army, it’s called NATO. Just kick out that imperialist shithole country from NATO and then it’s truly a reliable defensive alliance.
Stop sharing „lejdd“ article: this is not a trustworthy source of information in France (it’s a far right fake news media)
European army is extremely crippled without nuclear weapons. Are they also willing to hand over most of their nuclear missiles to the new E army?
European army sounds nice, until you think about Germany dragging us into defending Israel and then im out.
We cant even agree on Israel at Eurovision, how will we agree on our military cooperation and military spending?
Sounds good in theory but will never come to fruition.
What percentage of under 40s would volunteer?
Sac magique.
I got no skin in the game, and this seems like a no-brainer to me. You could mobilize faster and logistics would be more efficient. Chain of command would be stream-lined and there would be more uniformity in operational stuff.
What about shared nuclear weapons?
Melenchon in sambles.
Also the size of the French army is 63% of all the European armies combined.
Is it just same army thats under NATO but under different command? I just don’t understand how it would work. The way I see it we already have european army. It just includes few other countries that are obligated to defend us in case we are attacked.
All these things sound well and good but the political situation in France makes this pointless.
I’d be willing to bet that this same 63% of French people would not have to actually enlist in a European army if one gets set up.
You mean the French army, arent y’a ?
That’s so stupid, IMO. You need to be geopolitically unified before you can think of a unified army.
Do we use this army to defend France’s interests in Qatar and Lebanon? Or do we use it to defend German interests in Israel? You can’t really do both.
Do we position ourselves as an extension of NATO, against Russia/China, like many small US vassal states within EU, or do we seek strategic autonomy from other global powers?
Who leads? Who finances? Who gest the money? What about France’s nuclear arsenal?
A unified European army sounds good, but it rises so many problems, the first of them being that European countries have too much divergeant interests.
63% of french want there military complex disapear?