The Minister of National Defense, Nuno Melo, once again spoke out against the creation of a European army, arguing that the continent’s security continues to depend on NATO and the participation of the United States in the Atlantic Alliance. In an interview with News Journal and to TSFthe government official maintained that NATO has guaranteed decades of stability in the European space and warned of the risks of weakening the transatlantic connection. “A European defense is not equally effective with or without the United States,” he stated.
Melo recalls that NATO’s success also results from its transatlantic nature, “bringing together one side of the Atlantic and the other with the United States of America in the equation”, he stated. Asked about tensions between European allies and Donald Trump’s North American administration, the Defense Minister sought to downplay the impact of possible current political differences and preferred to defend the alliance’s historical ties. “I do not confuse the administration of a country with that country and its people. Administrations are transitory”he declared.
The government official also argued that NATO was decisive in guaranteeing European stability since the Second World War. “The European continental space has never had so much permanent peace as since the end of the Second World War, also because of NATO”he stated.
Although he defends the maintenance of this connection with the United States, Nuno Melo recognized that Europe must assume greater responsibilities in its own defense. “We have lived for too many years without investing in defense, relying on the American hat to do everything”he said. Therefore, he added, European allies must respond to new geopolitical threats through “strengthening their military capabilities” and greater “investment in the so-called European pillar of NATO”.
This strategy, he maintains, does not involve the creation of a European army. “I tend to be against the idea of a European army”, he reiterated, remembering that it was a position he had maintained “for many years”. Instead, Melo advocates greater coordination between European Union countries on defense matters, without replacing national armed forces.
Regarding the future replacement of the Portuguese Air Force’s F-16 fighters, the minister, and leader of the CDS, stated that the decision is not yet underway. “We must be very rational and thoughtful, both in our moments and in our options,” he stated. Nuno Melo once again defended a principle of preference for European industry, explaining that Portugal should invest “whenever possible” in capacities produced in the country and, when this is not viable, in Europe.
Even sopointed out that the choice of future combat aircraft cannot be determined solely by the origin of the equipment. “If one day our soldiers are called to fight, we must do everything to ensure that the equipment they use is lethal and allows them to survive for as long as possible.”, he stated, considering that the decision will be “certainly complex” and will have to balance strategic, industrial and operational factors.
