US Reliability Crumples—and EU Lawmakers Call for Joint Military Drills

German lawmakers in the European Parliament are calling for immediate joint EU military exercises following renewed threats from US President Donald Trump to withdraw the United States from NATO, Der Spiegel reported on April 1.

Trump has intensified his rhetoric against the alliance, labeling it a “paper tiger” and even claiming that Russian leader Vladimir Putin is well aware of its lack of credibility. Trump justified his shift by citing a perceived lack of support from European allies for the ongoing US military intervention against Iran.

“They haven’t been friends when we needed them,” Trump remarked, adding that his consideration of a withdrawal “goes beyond mere consideration,” Der Spiegel wrote.

In response, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, chair of the EU Defence Committee, described NATO as the continent’s “military backbone” but warned that the United States can no longer be viewed as a reliable partner. While she emphasized the importance of maintaining ties with non-EU NATO members like the United Kingdom, Norway, and Canada, she insisted that the European Parliament must ensure military capabilities are fully available and independent.

The debate has shifted toward the “European pillar” of defense, specifically the mutual assistance clause under Article 42 of the EU Treaties, which was first activated by France in 2015.

Hannah Neumann, the foreign policy spokesperson for the Greens, warned that it would be “naive” not to prepare for an escalation where the EU must act alone. She advocated for both desk-side simulations and field exercises to identify gaps in European defense, according to Der Spiegel.

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Neumann specifically pointed to the Mediterranean and the ongoing conflict with Iran as potential flashpoints, suggesting that Tehran or Moscow might soon “test” the EU’s resolve through drone strikes or other unconventional attacks. As the rift between Washington and its traditional allies widens, the push for military independence in Brussels has moved from a theoretical policy to a matter of immediate survival.

The struggle for EU military autonomy follows a growing rift over Operation Epic Fury, as several European nations prioritized national sovereignty and legal mandates over participation in the US-led conflict with Iran.

France, Spain, and Italy had previously restricted the use of their airspace and strategic bases, with Madrid specifically citing the lack of a UN mandate for the “illegal war” against Iran.

This adherence to independent defense policies has become the primary catalyst for President Trump’s “paper tiger” rhetoric and the subsequent drive in Brussels to establish a security framework capable of operating without Washington’s involvement.

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