Else Beekman
A large majority of Spaniards believe that the European Union should strengthen its defence capacity. A recent survey by the sociological research centre CIS reveals that 75% of respondents are concerned about the geopolitical situation and believe that Europe must arm itself militarily. Two out of three Spaniards even support the creation of a joint European army.
This shift in public opinion is not without cause. Ongoing conflicts, such as the war in Ukraine and tensions in the Middle East, have heightened uncertainty among Europeans. According to the survey, 57.8% of Spaniards believe that the EU currently lacks sufficient defensive capacity to protect itself from external threats.
Support for European army across political boundaries
Interestingly, the call for a stronger European army is not solely from right-wing voters. While most PP and Vox supporters favour increased defence spending (90.6% and 79.5%, respectively), a significant number of PSOE voters (76.3%) and even a majority of Sumar supporters (52.3%) also back a military budget increase. Notably, only among Bildu voters is there clear opposition to these plans.
The Trump factor fuels Europe’s defence ambitions
Another factor influencing this change in stance is the unpredictable relationship with the United States. Nearly 80% of Spaniards expect that Donald Trump’s return to the White House could negatively impact relations between the US and Europe. This fuels calls for less dependence on NATO and a stronger independent European military force.
Spain lags behind in troop numbers
Although Spain is one of the larger military players within the EU, it lags behind the European average in troop numbers. The fact check website Newtral dived into the latest NATO figures and concludes that Spain has 117,600 military personnel, equating to 2.4 soldiers per 1,000 inhabitants. In comparison, the European average is 3.6 soldiers per 1,000 inhabitants. To reach this level, Spain would need an additional 60,000 troops.
Meanwhile, countries like Poland have drastically expanded their armed forces, doubling their troop numbers over the past decade. Spain’s relatively low personnel numbers and lack of a robust reserve force make the country more vulnerable in times of crisis.
As one of the EU’s larger military contributors, with thousands of troops deployed on international missions, Spain will play a key role in discussions about a European army. The Spanish government has not yet taken an explicit stance on its formation, but Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares recently emphasised that Spain is already ‘setting an example’ with its defence contributions.
Also read: Strategic importance of US military bases in Spain