European defence “less effective without US,” Portugal warns

At a particularly sensitive juncture—both for Europe as a whole and for Portugal’s bilateral defence ties with the United States—Defence Minister Nuno Melo has sought to temper rising tensions, emphasising that NATO must continue to serve as Europe’s primary pillar of collective defence.

Melo said NATO remains essential to European security and warned against weakening transatlantic defence ties, The Resident reports.

“European defence is not equally effective with or without the USA,” he pointed out.

He added that NATO “as an organisation of dissuasion and defence, has fulfilled its role very well” and credited its effectiveness to “this Atlanticist approach, bringing together both sides of the Atlantic, with the United States of America in the equation.”

Melo also sought to downplay tensions between European allies and Washington, stating: “I don’t confuse the administration of a country with that country and its people. Administrations are transitory.”

The remarks came on the sidelines of a meeting in Brussels of European defence ministers, where he reiterated his opposition to the creation of a unified European army.

“I tend to be against the idea of a European army, which does not invalidate the fact that within the European Union (EU) and in the European context, we should not articulate what are fundamental aspects of a common defence,” he said.

Instead, Melo stressed the need to strengthen Europe’s defence pillar within NATO and increase investment in national armed forces.

He also noted that Europe has experienced an extended period of relative peace, saying: “Never before has continental Europe (…) had so much permanent peace as we have measured since the end of the Second World War, also because of NATO,” while not addressing the ongoing war in Ukraine in detail.

The discussion comes as Portugal considers the future of its air force fleet. The country had previously leaned toward purchasing Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jets, but concerns emerged over potential operational dependence on US control systems.

Reports suggested that these aircraft could be remotely restricted by manufacturers in scenarios where US policy diverged from allied military actions, prompting Lisbon to reassess its procurement options and consider European alternatives. This shift has reportedly prompted renewed US efforts to retain Portugal’s interest in American-made jets.

Meanwhile, renewed calls for a European army have resurfaced, including a recent proposal from Spain advocating for its immediate creation as a means of preserving Europe’s autonomy amid rising tensions with the United States.

However, the idea was swiftly rejected by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, who described it as unrealistic and instead called for strengthening the armed forces of individual European states.

By Vafa Guliyeva