During the Cold War, European defense structures benefitted (if that is the right word) from having the world's most important crisis spot their own front yard. Europe did not need to project power to defend the West--they had merely to drive out of their bases and start shooting at Soviet tanks.
Thus far, the Europeans have failed to transform their military into a force that can fight where the new potential theaters exist in the arc of crisis from West Africa to Central Asia.
But forging a single defense force is not the solution, as the article's author sets forth:
First, Europe must recognize that the days when every country could maintain "full spectrum" military capabilities is gone. It is neither necessary nor desirable for every country to have an air force, a navy, or (in some cases) an army. What purpose does it serve that Belgium has a squadron or two of F-16s (or Eurofighters, a plane that provides F-16 capabilities at F-22 prices)? Why does the Netherlands need four very expensive diesel electric submarines that can only operate in and around the North Sea? Why does Portugal need tanks? Given the cost of acquiring and operating advanced military hardware, the time has come to consider a rational division of labor among the countries of Europe, with some countries specializing, e.g., in tactical air force, others in naval warfare, others in mine countermeasures, etc. Making this work will require development of a single, integrated European defense policy, which in turn impinges on issues of national sovereignty--real countries have their own armies, navies, and air forces, and they do not cede control of these things to other countries or international organizations. Europe needs to decide if it wants to be a single entity or a federation of nation-states.
Why would Portugal need tanks? Well, if the Germans are given the job of developing armored units as their specialty (excuse the stereotypping), what if Portugal needs tanks for an operation to protect themselves and the Germans don't want to commit their tanks to fighting for Portugal? What if Germany sends the panzers but puts caveats on their use that makes them less than useless?
Consolidate a European defense force? That's the last thing we need. The price for getting more usable military forces would be far less willingness to use that power at our side. Europe is not our friend.
Each nation in Europe should decide what they need to defend themselves and create a national force that has those capabilities. Should alliance needs require power above that, the Portugese are free to add those unneeded national capabilities in the name of alliance solidarity. But eliminate national defense capabilities and trust the EU to fill the void? They'd be fools to do so. Truth be told, Portugal probably doesn't need tanks--or at least not many.
Europe surely needs to decide whether it is one country or an alliance of nation-states. I think the nation-states that make up Europe would be better off in an alliance and not a province of a politically united European Union.
And we need to recognize that it is in our national interest to promote Europe as an alliance of friendly nation-states.
