What is the paradox of sovereignty in European defence?

The paradox of sovereignty in European defence is when countries want to be strong together but also want to stay independent.

Imagine you and your friends are building a super cool treehouse. You all agree it will be stronger if you work together, like sharing tools, wood, and ideas. But each of you still wants to decide what color your part of the treehouse should be, how big your window is, and who gets to bring snacks.

That’s sovereignty, being in charge of your own decisions. In Europe, countries want to join forces for better defence (like a team with more tools), but they also don’t want to lose their freedom to make their own choices. It's like wanting the best treehouse ever but still arguing about who gets to paint it blue or green.

This can cause problems because sometimes working together needs big decisions, like how much money each country should give, or which leaders get to speak first. So even though they are all part of a bigger team, they might not always agree on everything.