New Delhi, Feb. 22 -- While the transatlantic relationship made the headlines at this month's Munich Security Conference, many of the European analysts I hung out with were more concerned about whether, how and how quickly Europe could build adequate military capacity to achieve meaningful strategic autonomy.

The twin fears of a potential Russian invasion and an American divorce have compelled Europe's leaders to invest in military capacity, but it presents the EU and its member states with unprecedented structural challenges.

Europe sees a threat to the Union itself, but has to rely on the military establishments of its member-states to respond to it. Like the Pope, Brussels has practically no divisions under its command. Europe's arme...