The European Union's Defence Commissioner, Andrius Kubilius, has put forth a significant proposal for the creation of a 'powerful, standing European military force' comprising approximately 100,000 troops. Speaking in Sweden on January 11, 2026, Kubilius framed this idea as a direct response to a critical question facing Europe: 'How will we replace the 100,000-strong American standing military force, which is the back-bone military force in Europe?'. This initiative is primarily aimed at bolstering Europe's self-defence capabilities and reducing its reliance on military support from the United States. The proposal gains urgency amidst heightened fears among NATO allies regarding Washington's long-term commitment to European defence, particularly following statements from former US President Donald Trump and an ongoing discussion about the US's focus shifting towards China. European nations are already stepping up efforts to improve their military readiness in the face of the ongoing threat posed by Russia. It is crucial to distinguish this ambitious new proposal from the EU's existing 'Rapid Deployment Capacity' (RDC), a framework for swiftly deploying up to 5,000 troops for crisis response outside its borders, which is set to reach full operational capability by 2025. While the RDC is a significant step towards strategic autonomy, Kubilius's vision for a 100,000-strong force represents a much larger and more transformative shift in European defence posture, aiming for a direct replacement of a substantial portion of the US military presence. Kubilius also advocated for the establishment of a 'European Security Council' with 10-12 permanent and rotational members, potentially including the UK, to facilitate quicker decision-making on continental defence matters. The idea of a central European army has been debated for years but has historically faced resistance from member states hesitant to relinquish control over their national armed forces. The current geopolitical climate, however, might provide new impetus for such a long-discussed concept.