Part 5/12:
However, establishing a unified air defense presents numerous logistical and political challenges. For instance, locating the defense systems primarily on the EU's eastern flank could provoke Moscow’s ire, while reliance on non-European military hardware—such as US and Israeli missile systems—raises questions about strategic autonomy. Member states hesitant to cede sovereignty or dependent on foreign military equipment pose significant barriers.
Moreover, the continent’s longstanding resistance to deeper military integration complicates efforts. While some nations, like Italy, have floated the idea of forming an EU army, backlash from countries such as Slovenia, Spain, and Denmark—who prefer NATO as their primary security alliance—has hindered progress.