“The idea of a European army is wishful thinking—let’s be clear about that,” says Michał Kobosko, Member of the European Parliament from Polska 2050. “Every EU member state must not only talk about but actively build its own security, in close coordination with the rest of the Union.” In the context of escalating global conflicts, particularly tensions between Israel and Iran, Kobosko believes that Poland should focus on cooperation both with the European Union and the United States.
“I fear the consequences of this new escalation between Israel and Iran, because the grim truth is that we will all end up paying for it,” Kobosko said in an interview with Newseria. “As commodity markets—especially oil—become unstable, we’ll see rising fuel prices at the pump. And when fuel costs go up, so do the prices of virtually all goods and services, including here in Poland. This phase of the conflict could have very negative consequences for us.”
Analysts at Reflex warn that the Israel–Iran conflict could lead to sharp fuel price changes in Poland. For now, the increases are limited to a few groszy per liter at some stations, but this could escalate if the Strait of Hormuz is blocked and Middle Eastern oil supplies are disrupted.
The conflict’s implications go far beyond energy markets. According to Kobosko, it also affects global security dynamics, especially in relation to Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.
“Russia has relied—and continues to rely—on Iranian military technologies, particularly the infamous drones used in recent attacks on residential buildings in Kyiv. We are witnessing immense destruction caused by a country that directly aids Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine. If Iran is cut off from exporting its military technologies, it would be a good outcome for Ukraine. But it’s still a long road to true security, and to getting Putin to end this war. He needs to receive a clear signal, including from President Trump’s administration, that continuing this war would be catastrophic for Russia and not in its interest,” the MEP explained.
Kobosko also warns of increasing global instability, as more countries with aggressive ambitions begin to feel emboldened—partly due to the changing stance of the United States, which is stepping back from its traditional role as the world’s stabilizer.
“Under Trump’s second term, the U.S. is clearly pulling back from this role. So far, it’s mostly just rhetoric—such as talks about reducing American military presence in Europe—but in today’s world, words matter. Many countries have interpreted this as the disappearance of a restraining force, a deterrent. As a result, they feel they can now act more freely. We’ve already seen this in the renewed tensions between India and Pakistan—a regional conflict that remains unresolved and could flare up again,” he added.
He also raised alarms over the Trump administration’s past interest in acquiring Greenland, an autonomous territory tied to the Kingdom of Denmark and thus to the EU.
“That scenario would be extremely dangerous. If the U.S. ever attempted to seize land by force anywhere in the world, it would send a disastrous signal to autocrats and dictators with unchecked ambitions and military power. That kind of destabilization would inevitably lead to war sooner or later,” Kobosko warned.
In response to Russia’s war on Ukraine and the U.S.’s shifting foreign policy, the European Commission in March 2025 unveiled the ReArm Europe / Readiness 2030 plan. The initiative aims to enhance EU member states’ defense capabilities and allows them to invest up to 1.5% of GDP annually in defense without incurring penalties for excessive deficits. The Commission estimates the plan could mobilize as much as €800 billion to strengthen defense capacity across the bloc.
According to a Eurobarometer survey published in March 2025, two-thirds of EU citizens (66%) want the EU to play a greater role in managing global crises and security threats. Security and defense were identified as top EU priorities by 36% of respondents across the Union.
“Still, this is not a choice between America or Europe,” Kobosko emphasized. “Europe and the U.S. are destined to work together. I’m not among those who think we should turn our backs on the U.S. and only focus on Europe. That’s unrealistic. We need to be pragmatic and stop assuming that America will always protect Europe’s interests and security.”
He believes that every EU country must strengthen its own national security while coordinating efforts at the European level.
“This means investing in our armed forces and enhancing our ability to deter potential aggressors. It also means developing a robust European defense industry—joint weapons procurement, joint development of large-scale pan-European defense projects. There is still a great deal to do in this area,” Kobosko said.
He also stressed the importance of protecting critical physical infrastructure from acts of sabotage.
“While we’re naturally focused on the Baltic region, we must also pay attention to transatlantic and oceanic undersea cables—our vital communication links. If these were cut, we wouldn’t just lose the ability to make transatlantic calls. It would cripple business operations and economic activity. That’s why Europe is now seriously discussing the security of its infrastructure—especially the underwater infrastructure lying on the seabed,” the MEP explained. “Alongside NATO, the EU must be prepared to respond to real threats. We’ve already seen multiple sabotage attempts in the Baltic Sea—carried out by what’s called the ‘Russian shadow fleet,’ mysterious vessels lingering near strategic areas, well outside typical maritime routes. These are warning signs we must take seriously.”
