European soldiers (Claude TRUONG-NGOC)
A reader sent me a link to the following:
Spain calls for the creation of an EU army amid fears Europe can no longer rely on NATO for protection
12 May 2026
Spain is calling for the creation of a European Union army, amid fears the continent can no longer rely on NATO for military protection.
The country’s foreign minister José Manuel Albares said NATO, which has been dominated by the US since its inception in 1949, may not be replied upon to provide security guarantees.
He added that if the EU was not beholden to NATO, Donald Trump could not hold Europe’s security to ransom.
He told Politico: ‘We cannot be waking up every morning wondering what the US will do next… our citizens deserve better.
‘This is the moment of the sovereignty and independence of Europe. The Americans are inviting us to that.
‘We have to be free of dependence. Free of dependence means to be free of coercion, whether it comes to tariffs or the use of military threat. And free of the consequences of someone else’s decisions.’ https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-15810309/Spain-calls-creation-EU-army-amid-fears-Europe-no-longer-rely-NATO-protection.html
One of the unintended consequences of Donald Trump’s presidency is that more in Europe want it to be a major military power independent of the United States.
Notice the following:
11 May 2026
BERLIN (own report) – German defence strategists have presented a new concept paper for German and European rearmament. Entitled ‘Sparta 2.0’, it pursues military independence from the United States. As the paper’s authors point out, “no European combat mission” is currently conceivable without “software or systems” from the United States. Washington must be asked for authorisation. They want to break free from military dependence within a few years and are confident that European states can do so. But it would, they say, require the political will as well as a huge funding commitment: up to 500 billion euros would be needed in the first decade of the arms build-up. This, the authors claim, is financially feasible. On the specifics, they identify ten “strategic capability gaps” to be closed, including some – such as the mass production of drones and the development of satellite constellations – on which German weapon companies are already making rapid progress. The path to “European defence autonomy” lies in “the commitment of Germany’s financial and industrial resources”. This roadmap to remilitarisation reflects an ever-closer intertwining of German policymaking and German think-tanks with the burgeoning defence sector companies. There are particularly close links with the now booming drone industry. …
Germany as core of Europe’s military might
‘Sparta 2.0’ does not go into detail regarding timeframes or financial structures. It claims that “substantial progress towards independent European operational capability” within three to five years is a realistic goal. “Far-reaching autonomy” could be achieved “in most areas” within five to ten years. The authors estimate the overall costs at 150 to 200 billion euros by 2030. As for the entire decade leading up to the point where far-reaching autonomy is achieved, governments would have to find around 500 billion euros collectively. That amounts to 50 or so billion euros per year. For the EU member states plus the UK and Norway, this would purportedly amount to just over 0.25 per cent of their economic output. The authors regard this as financially feasible. They recommend an approach that builds a “coalition of the willing”. This means in practice working “with the states of Central and Eastern Europe and Scandinavia, as well as with the traditional partners in Western Europe and the UK.” The paper explicitly factors in a special role for Germany, which would increase its military budget far more significantly than other European states. Berlin’s contribution would amount to 150 billion euros, or even 160 billion euros, under the ‘Sparta 2.0’ vision. After all, “the path to European defence autonomy inevitably leads via the deployment of Germany’s financial and industrial resources.” Germany becomes the core of a future European military powerhouse. https://www.german-foreign-policy.com/en/news/detail/10399
Yes, Europe in general and Germany in particular wants military independence from the United States.
Notice some statements and warnings in my January 2025 free eBook Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency:
Many Europeans see the political situation in the USA as broken.[i]
Because of some of Donald Trump’s statements, back in late 2015, Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg, former German Defense Minister, called Donald Trump “that blonde lunatic named Donald.”[ii] And even though he did not like Donald Trump’s reelection in 2024, he said it was good news in that it was a final wake up call for Europe to improve its own security and take other steps to protect itself because of his policies and possible actions.[iii]
Furthermore, at a conference in 2025, Herr Guttenberg referred to “bully Trump” and said Europe needed to be achieve an independent military defense so that it no longer needs to dependent on the USA.[iv] An unintended consequence of Donald Trump’s presidency may be the rise of Barron Guttenberg.
Europe will go in a direction that USA leaders, including its ‘foreign policy experts,’ do not comprehend (Daniel 11:39; Isaiah 10:5-11). …
Many in the USA do not seem to realize that once Europeans are spending more for their militaries, they will also expect to have more independence from the USA as to how military might will be used. …
- Although, overall, the European nations have not paid for their defense to the amount they have suggested they would, pressuring them to spend more will 1) encourage them to be independent of the USA and 2) put Europe in a position where it has a great army (Daniel 11:25), many ships (Daniel 11:40), and access to nuclear weapons (cf. Deuteronomy 29:23-25; Isaiah 9:19-21;Ezekiel 6:6), which will help it conquer the USA, which is the military power with the strongest fortresses (cf. Daniel 11:39).
[i] Krastev I. The crisis of American power: How Europeans see Biden’s America. European Council on Foreign Relations, January 19, 2021
[ii] Wish List or Reality? Digital Trends in 2016 | Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg | hub conference. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgdZUA96UBU. Posted 12/11/ 2015
[iii] Zu Guttenberg: Nach Ampel-Knall hält Trump Deutschland für ein leichtes Opfer. Focus Online, November 2024
[iv] Winkler T. Geeint gegen den “Bully Trump.” MeinBezirk, January 9, 2025
Nations in Europe are spending more on military matters.
Notice the following last Spring from Euronews:
Some European leaders have recently renewed calls for the creation of a European army—an idea that has long stalled on the continent. But is it time to revive it? …
The largest armed forces are in France, with 202,200 troops, followed by Germany (179,850), Poland (164,100), Italy (161,850), the United Kingdom (141,100), Greece (132,000), and Spain (122,200), according to the Military Balance 2025, compiled by the IISS.
In the short term, Europe’s challenge is not to replace the US military one-for-one, Max Bergmann, director at the US Center for Strategic and International Studies, said in a recent analysis. “But for the long term, Europe should get serious about building a common European force that can fight and act as one to defend Europe—that can replace the United States,” he wrote. …
Earlier this year, the EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, noted that … “We need 27 European armies that are capable and can effectively work together to deter our rivals and defend Europe—preferably with our allies and partners, but alone if needed,” Kallas said … https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/04/18/raising-a-unified-european-army-myth-or-reality
Notice that the goal is to replace the United States.
But will Europe end up with a European army?
Yes as that is prophesied in Daniel 11:25.
Shortly after Donald Trump became President of the United States the first time, Europe finally activated something called PESCO. Here is more about it after his second Administration began:
EU Defence Series: PESCO Must Step Up
March 7, 2025
Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO), established by the Treaty of Lisbon in 2007, was intended to create a framework for the most willing and able Member States (MS) to cooperate on defence within the EU. It was activated by 23 of them in 2017. Today, all MS except Malta participate. …
PESCO also hosts practical intergovernmental cooperation projects. From 2017 to 2021, waves of projects were launched each year, after which the rhythm became two-yearly, with waves in 2023 and 2025. Today, there are 66 ongoing projects and 7 have been completed. MS may act as coordinators, participants, or observers in any number of projects and are generally free to manage projects as they wish. … According to the progress report published each year by the PESCO Secretariat, PESCO projects are progressing well despite a general lack of awareness of the initiative … https://icds.ee/en/eu-defence-series-pesco-must-step-up/
The USA reportedly does have concerns about Europe having its own joint military PESCO taking steps. Notice the following:
Greenland in the US Grand Strategy: Keeping the EU and PESCO Out
8 March 2026
There is one objective the US cannot secure in Greenland under the current status quo, and that is to keep out the EU’s newly established defence cooperation, called Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO).
This helps explain why the US seeks full control of Greenland. Other explanations, such as Trump’s personal political ambitions or access to natural resources, can also play a role, but function largely as political noise that obscures the real underlying interests.
This is a systemic and long-term US policy that predates the Trump administration. It is rooted in US’s quest to maintain global dominance in the 21st century, where the EU, alongside China and Russia, has long been viewed as a strategic competitor.
As long as European states depend on US security structures through NATO and US intelligence services, European sovereignty remains limited. PESCO, established in 2017, was designed to alter this dependency. As it expands, it has the potential to develop into a major EU defence and intelligence structure, reducing US influence over European policymaking, and can over time render NATO redundant. …
The Establishment of PESCO
In the 1990s, concern grew in Europe over US military and economic dominance, particularly in larger states such as France and Germany. This revived the idea of European defence cooperation outside NATO’s shadow and US control.
From this perspective, the US focus on annexing Greenland appears central to its long-term strategic interests, and connects decades of efforts to prevent Eurasian integration. …
Denmark joined PESCO in 2022, and Greenland, which had been a closed US strategic zone for more than 70 years, can be seen as opened to PESCO.
In this context, PESCO’s access to Greenland can weaken US control over the Arctic-Atlantic region, an area of increasing importance for shipping routes, digital infrastructure, and access between Europe and Asia as climate change makes these routes more viable.
PESCO has expanded relatively rapidly over 10 years, from 17 joint projects to more than 70 joint projects, covering areas such as, military mobility, surveillance, command and control, cyber capabilities, and space-based systems. Several of these projects are directly relevant to the Arctic region, most notably the Arctic Command and Control Effector and Sensor System (ACCESS), indicating a dedicated focus on developing capabilities relevant to the Arctic theatre.
As the EU becomes less dependent on US security structures, it gains greater freedom to pursue independent policies that enable deeper cooperation and economic integration across Eurasia. https://countercurrents.org/2026/03/greenland-in-the-us-grand-strategy-keeping-the-eu-and-pesco-out/
Related to PESCO, on November 2018, the Continuing Church of God (CCOG) put together the following video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel:
15:25PESCO and a Great European Army
In November 2018, French President Macron called for a “true European army” because of China, Russia, and the USA. Some others in Europe have echoed that sentiment. On November 9, 2018, US President Donald Trump called that an insult, but the next day said that the USA wanted “a very strong Europe.” Emmanuel Macron referred to Donald Trump as “my friend” and indicated a desire to strengthen Europe’s military spending. In December 2017, 25 European nations agreed to be part of a military alliance called PESCO. Europe also has NATO and IEI. Will Europe end up with “a great army”? Has Donald Trump’s announcement to withdraw from the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty gotten some to say that Europe must rebel against the USA? Is the idea of a United States of Europe and a European army a “paranoid fantasy” or a biblical reality? Will the USA regret Europe becoming a stronger military power? Will the USA be betrayed by “friends” such as its continental European allies? Does the Bible teach any or all of this? Are there connections to the Beast of Revelation or the King of the North of Daniel 11? Dr. Thiel addresses these matters in this video.
Here is a link to the sermonette video: PESCO and a Great European Army.
The Bible specifically teaches that Europe will have a great army–which is something that Donald Trump is unknowingly pushing Europe to develop:
25 “He shall stir up his power and his courage against the king of the South with a great army. (Daniel 11:25)
The “He” is identified as the final prophesied European King of the North in Daniel 11:40 (watch also Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European?).
Hence, yes, Europe is prophesied to have a great European army–it is not a myth–it will come to pass.
Donald Trump, by pressuring the EU to spend more on defense, has been pushing Europe to fulfill its prophesied destiny in the end of this age.
That said, there are concerns by many that increased military spending in Europe will result in the rise of Germany as a major military power again. Notice the following:
Deutschland über alles? The world is not ready for German rearmament
As US priorities move away from the EU, NATO faces a fragmented future shaped by Russia fears, French autonomy and Germany’s military revival
10 May 2026
The headlines are filled with reports of growing discord inside NATO. Donald Trump openly questions the value of allies who, in his view, fail to carry their share of the burden. Western Europe complains about the unreliability of its American patron while simultaneously pledging loyalty to the Atlantic alliance. Beneath the daily noise, however, something far more significant is taking place: the gradual transformation of Europe’s political and military order. …
France has emerged as the loudest advocate of greater Western European strategic independence. Paris retains a long tradition of military autonomy and still possesses something few other European powers can claim: a genuinely independent nuclear deterrent. France cannot realistically replace the American nuclear umbrella over Western Europe, but it increasingly seeks to position itself as the ideological leader of a more self-reliant bloc. …
As so often in European history, however, the decisive factor will likely be Germany.
Much of post-war Europe was built around one central idea: Germany must never again become an independent geopolitical force. After 1945 the country was divided, militarily constrained and tightly integrated into Western structures under American supervision.
Even German reunification in 1990 was accepted partly because Germany remained embedded inside NATO. At the time, many believed that anchoring a unified Germany within the Atlantic alliance was the safest possible arrangement for Europe. …
Now, three and a half decades later, Europe may again face the prospect of a Germany becoming strategically autonomous, …
Berlin is discussing accelerated rearmament, expanded military infrastructure and legislative changes aimed at increasing recruitment for the Bundeswehr. The debate over compulsory military service, once politically unthinkable, has returned to the mainstream.
Recent comments by Franz-Josef Overbeck, the Catholic military bishop of the Bundeswehr, are revealing. Overbeck openly called for Germany to send forces to the Strait of Hormuz and argued that compulsory military service should be restored not only for men but also for women.
His reasoning was blunt. Germany, he argued, can no longer remain on the sidelines in an increasingly dangerous world.
Many within Germany’s political establishment likely agree with him privately. …
Trump’s pressure on NATO is therefore acting as a catalyst for changes that were already underway. Western Europe is being pushed, reluctantly and unevenly, toward greater military independence. …
Whether such a bloc becomes effective will depend above all on Germany. https://www.rt.com/news/639842-old-german-question-haunts-europe/
As far as Germany goes, notice something it announced last month:
The Bundeswehr Capability Profile echoes the Merz government’s narrative of building the strongest conventional army in Europe, a process expected to unfold in three stages. By 2029, the aim is to expand deterrence and defence capabilities as rapidly as possible using available resources. Between 2029 and approximately 2035, these capabilities are expected to increase significantly as currently procured weapons and military equipment are deployed. This is intended to enable Germany to assume a European leadership role within the Alliance. Between 2035 and approximately 2039, the Bundeswehr is expected to become the most technologically advanced conventional army in Europe. https://www.osw.waw.pl/en/publikacje/analyses/2026-04-24/horizon-ambition-military-strategy-and-capability-profile-bundeswehr
A German-dominated European military is being forged.
Germany, after decades of pressure from the USA, has been taking steps to greatly increase its military spending.
Is this a good thing or may it lead to World War III?
The Bible shows that a German-dominated power will destroy many nations (Isaiah 10:5-12).
The Continuing Church of God put together the following related video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel:
Germany’s Great Army – Any Problems? WWIII?
At long last, from the perspective of the United States, Germany is stepping up to the plate and greatly increasing its military spending. The politicians in Germany have found a way to bypass the legal limitation on debt enshrined in the Basic Law. This is intended to enable them to develop the military and weaponry they feel is needed to protect themselves from potential threats. The Germans and 75% of NATO feel they have to take these type of steps because they feel the USA can no longer be relied on to help protect them militarily. Politico asked about Germany’s military rebuilding, “What Could Go Wrong?” Could this rebuilding be part of the rise of the “Fourth Reich”? If so, what would this mean? What were the first three Reichs? The so-called ‘Holy Roman Empire’ was the first. Imperial Germany of the 19th century was the second. Adolph Hitler’s Nazi Germany was the third. Can the rise of the fourth Reich be related to a revival of some type of the Holy Roman Empire? The Bible shows that the final King of the North will have a “great army” (Daniel 11:25) and “many ships” (Daniel 11:40). Could that be Germany, which is also working on many military technologies, including supercollider research? Consider, further, that the Bible tells of a power that had been unsuccessful going against a prosperous nation with a strong military before (WWI and WII?), but will finally succeed per Daniel 11:24 and Daniel 11:39. Could the next attempt be World War III and the end of the United States of America? Could the USA be the ungodly/hypocritical nation of Isaiah 10:7 that God says He will use the end-time descendants of Assyria to punish? Are there any prophetic and historic ties between ancient Assyria and the Germanic peoples of Central Europe? Watch this video and listen as Dr. Thiel shines the light of Biblical prophecy right from the pages of the Bible on the full ramifications of the rise of the Beast whose deadly wound was healed!
Here is a link to our video: Germany’s Great Army – Any Problems? WWIII?
There will be many unintended consequences of the Trump-Vance Administration.
While Europe has been relying on the USA for defense, many do not like that nor trust the USA. The time will come when Europe concludes it not only does not need the USA, but that it would prefer to destroy it! Many in Europe are working towards that now.
Related to what the relationship between Europe and the United States is leading to, the Continuing Church of God put together the following video on our Bible News Prophecy YouTube channel discussing various views and scriptures about that:
European Union wants to be militarily independent of the USA – check, European Union wants a larger military – check, European Union wants nukes – check, European Union wants this for defensive purposes –will Europe acquire a great army? Will Europe defeat the Biblical King of the South? Is Europe the King of the North? Will Europe defeat the King(s) from the east? Here’s a big question – will Europe conquer the United States of America? Is the United State of America mentioned in the Bible? These are fascinating questions that will be answered in the very near future. The fact that these conflicts will occur is a certainty, as they are a prophesied fact in the Bible in the book of Daniel. But when will these conflicts occur? Daniel was told to shut up the words, they were for the time of the end. Dan 12:4: ‘But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.’ We are there. This is the time of the end. Dr. Thiel will shine the light on the answers to these questions. One answer, in particular, is sure to stun thousands.
Here is a link to our video: European Union wants military independence from the USA.
The Trump-Vance Administration has caused fears in Europe about the USA’s military commitments.
The USA and its Anglo-Saxon-Celtic descended allies will be defeated (Daniel 8:24-25).
The Bible teaches that this will come to pass (Daniel 11:39; see also USA in Prophecy: The Strongest Fortresses).
We continue to see Europe take steps as well as to advocate for future steps that will lead to the fulfillment of biblical prophecies.
The reality of a great European army independent of the USA is getting closer.
Some items of possibly related interest may include:
Europa, the Beast, and Revelation Where did Europe get its name? What might Europe have to do with the Book of Revelation? What about “the Beast”? Is an emerging European power “the daughter of Babylon”? What is ahead for Europe? Here is are links to related videos: European history and the Bible, Europe In Prophecy, The End of European Babylon, and Can You Prove that the Beast to Come is European? Here is a link to a related sermon in the Spanish language: El Fin de la Babilonia Europea.
Must the Ten Kings of Revelation 17:12 Rule over Ten Currently Existing Nations? Some claim that these passages refer to a gathering of 10 currently existing nations together, while one group teaches that this is referring to 11 nations getting together. Is that what Revelation 17:12-13 refers to? The ramifications of misunderstanding this are enormous.
USA in Prophecy: The Strongest Fortresses Can you point to scriptures, like Daniel 11:39, that point to the USA in the 21st century? This article does. A related sermon is titled: Do these 7 prophesies point to the end of the USA?
Who is the King of the West? Why is there no Final End-Time King of the West in Bible Prophecy? Is the United States the King of the West? Here is a version in the Spanish language: ¿Quién es el Rey del Occidente? ¿Por qué no hay un Rey del Occidente en la profecía del tiempo del fin? A related sermon is also available: The Bible, the USA, and the King of the West.
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies for the Great Monarch point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States? In the Spanish language check out ¿Quién es el Rey del Norte? Here are links to two related videos: The King of the North is Alive: What to Look Out For and The Future King of the North.
The Great Monarch: Biblical and Greco-Roman Catholic Prophecies Is the ‘Great Monarch’ of Greco-Roman Catholic prophecies endorsed or condemned by the Bible? Two sermons of related interest are also available: Great Monarch: Messiah or False Christ? and Great Monarch in 50+ Beast Prophecies.
Germany’s Assyrian Roots Throughout History Are the Germanic peoples descended from Asshur of the Bible? Have there been real Christians in Germanic history? What about the “Holy Roman Empire”? There is also a You-Tube video sermon on this titled Germany’s Biblical Origins.
Germany in Biblical and Greco-Roman Catholic Prophecy Does Assyria in the Bible equate to an end time power inhabiting the area of the old Roman Empire? What does prophecy say Germany will do and what does it say will happen to most of the German people? Here is a link to a video Is the USA Pushing Germany to Start WWIII?
Unintended Consequences and Donald Trump’s Presidency: Is Donald Trump Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic, Greco-Roman Catholic, Buddhist, and other America-Related Prophecies? Is Donald Trump going to save the USA or are there going to be many disastrous unintended consequences of his statements and policies? What will happen? This is a free eBook.
Lost Tribes and Prophecies: What will happen to Australia, the British Isles, Canada, Europe, New Zealand and the United States of America? Where did those people come from? Can you totally rely on DNA? What about other peoples? Do you really know what will happen to Europe and the English-speaking peoples? What about Africa, Asia, South America, and the Islands? This free online book provides scriptural, scientific, historical references, and commentary to address those matters. Here are links to related sermons: Lost tribes, the Bible, and DNA; Lost tribes, prophecies, and identifications; 11 Tribes, 144,000, and Multitudes; Israel, Jeremiah, Tea Tephi, and British Royalty; Gentile European Beast; Royal Succession, Samaria, and Prophecies; Asia, Islands, Latin America, Africa, and Armageddon; When Will the End of the Age Come?; Rise of the Prophesied King of the North; Christian Persecution from the Beast; WWIII and the Coming New World Order; and Woes, WWIV, and the Good News of the Kingdom of God.