Zelenskyy wants a Unified European Army, but do the numbers add up?

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has argued that Europe could no longer be sure of protection from the United States and would only get respect from Washington with a strong unified military. (File Photo: AP)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday called for the creation of a European army, arguing the continent could no longer be sure of protection from the United States and would only get respect from Washington with a strong military.

In an impassioned speech to the annual Munich Security Conference of global policymakers, Zelenskyy said an address by U.S. Vice President JD Vance the previous day had made clear the relationship between Europe and the United States was changing.

“Let’s be honest – now we can’t rule out the possibility that America might say no to Europe on issues that threaten it,” said Zelenskyy, speaking as the war triggered by Russia’s invasion of his country will soon enter its fourth year.

Trump's declaration last Wednesday that he was willing to speak with Russia has sparked a rush throughout Europe to figure out how to react, even though an end to the conflict in Ukraine had been considered some way off.

European countries and militia – A look at numbers

Based on Zelenskyy’s call, let’s first visualise how one such unified European army would look like.

According to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) data, the Ukrainian Armed Forces had approximately 900,000 active personnel as of 2024.

Here is how major European countries fare in terms of the size of their security force (military personnel) as per SIPRI:

• France: Approximately 61,301,290

• Germany: Approximately 66,826,634

• United Kingdom: Approximately 74,942,800

• Poland: Approximately 31,649,875

• Italy: Approximately 35,528,924

• Spain: Approximately 23,699,130

• Netherlands: Approximately 16,624,820

While the concept of a consolidated European military force has been discussed for years, its realization faces significant challenges. These obstacles stem from political divergences, economic disparities, and substantial variations in military capabilities among European nations, as evidenced by data from SIPRI above.

Variations in military capabilities

The disparities in military spending are mirrored in the personnel strength and technological advancements of European armed forces. According to the World Bank, the total number of armed forces personnel in the European Union was approximately 1.91 million in 2019. However, this number is unevenly distributed among member states. For instance, larger countries like France and Germany maintain substantial military forces, while smaller nations have significantly fewer personnel. This imbalance poses a significant hurdle in creating a cohesive and effective unified army.

Economic disparities and defence spending

According to SIPRI’s Military Expenditure Database, Ukraine's military expenditure in 2023 was USD 64.8 billion. This represents a significant increase and placed Ukraine as the eighth-largest military spender globally in that year.

Meanwhile, France allocated approximately USD 61.3 billion to defence, while smaller nations like Hungary spent around USD 4.4 billion. This stark contrast in military expenditure highlights the challenges in pooling resources and ensuring equitable contributions from all member states.

NATO’s predominance

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has been the cornerstone of European defence for decades. Many European countries view NATO as the primary guarantor of their security, leading to reluctance in diverting resources or attention to a separate European military structure. The potential overlap between NATO and a proposed European army raises questions about command structures, operational coherence, and strategic objectives.