SpaceWar.com reports: “EU countries should weigh whether to set up a combined military force that could eventually replace US troops in Europe, the bloc’s defence chief said Sunday.

EU defence commissioner Andrius Kubilius floated creating a ‘powerful, standing ‘European military force’ of 100,000 troops’ as a possible option to better protect the continent.

‘How will we replace the 100,000-strong American standing military force, which is the back-bone military force in Europe?’ he asked in a speech in Sweden.

The suggestion comes as US President Donald Trump has heightened fears among NATO allies over Washington’s reliability by insisting he wants to take over Greenland.

Worries over Trump’s commitment to Europe have already spurred countries to step up efforts to bolster their militaries in the face of the threat posed by Russia.

Ideas about establishing a central European army have floated around for years but have largely failed to gain traction as nations are wary of relinquishing control over their militaries.

The US has pushed its European allies to increasingly take over responsibility for their own security, and raised the prospect it could shift forces from Europe to focus on China…”