I kinda agree with you on certain things..
it's not necessary anymore since with only a slight increase in military spending and integrated militaries we'd be stronger than our most direct threat: Russia
Russia could fuck your shit up without a single soldier stepping foot on EU soil. Period.
The crazy thing is, after 10 years in the making - the defense shields created by the US is about to be fully activated. Americans are setting up a giant defense shield network in the US. We aren't talking about jet fighters or troops but shields. EU by itself cant even do that on it's own. (not shitting on EU, just making a point)
Increased military spending would mean that we'd finally become relevant in international politics again and means that we will be able to have our own foreign policy that isn't just a clear cut copy of the one of the US
France is an example of a country that (rightfully so) called the US out on the Iraq war and refused to help. America's first and oldest ally. You know what America did in response? Only something a true super power could do to such a country like France.. a few rednecks changed French Fries to Freedom Fries. The horror!
EU needs to grow a pair. I don't think China, US, nor Russia take the EU as threatening at all. And that's a problem, it means there's no respect thus pushing the EU around is rather easy. I don't think a EU army would suddenly change that. I think actions like that of France on the Iraq war is what's needed. They stood their ground and were on the right side of history.
Our GDP is only slightly under that of the US and our population is way bigger. We could potentially even be stronger than the US
For the EU to match that of the US, it'd have to raise taxes significantly. I think you're grossly underestimating the budget the US military has.. even ancient Rome would say 'fuck me'. The international bases alone.. Russia has about 10 while the US has about 710 foreign bases. The US spends more than China, Russia, India, Germany, UK, Canada combined and there's still billions more after that.
It's kinda like US and Russia's nuclear stockpile. You shouldn't strive to have that for your own country. At least for me, it's not a good thing. Impressive, yeah no other empire/country has ever had such a massive budget in history.. but the primary reason people hate on Americans so often is the military.
When you have such an astronomical budget, you have to finance that beyond just taxes. That's where imperialism comes in. That's where world policing comes in. That's where getting involved in every major conflict in the world comes in.
At the end of the day I truly, like UK in the EU - it's way better than the alternative.