In a broad interview reported in a recent issue of the political magazine Prospect, Blair said there was "a certain scratchiness" in European Union's relations with the United States, an apparent reference to countries, including France and Germany, that have expressed concern at U.S. talk of overthrowing Iraqi president Saddam Hussein.

Blair was quoted as saying, "My challenge to Europe is this: if we want to have greater sway and greater power, then instead of complaining about America, we've got to face up to what we need to do. That means developing a coherent defense capability and a set of institutions to allow Europe to speak strongly."

The United States says Saddam is a sponsor of international terrorism and seeks nuclear weapons. But allies have shown little appetite for a military campaign to oust him without hard evidence that Iraq had a role in the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States.

The prime minister, a strong U.S. ally, said if the time comes for action against Iraq, "people will have the evidence presented to them" to show that Saddam "is trying to acquire weapons of mass destruction, in particular a nuclear capability."

Blair said some European criticism of America "comes from an irritation with their huge superpower status. If we pool our sovereignty in a way that gives us a strong voice and, if we improve our defense capability, we will be the strategic partner that America needs and wants."

European allies spend about 1.8 percent of their gross domestic product on defense, compared with the United States' 3 percent.

Plans to create a European defense force with up to 60,000 soldiers in a rapid-reaction peacekeeping unit have stalled because Greece objects to a deal that would allow Turkey to veto deployment in its region. Turkey is a member of NATO but not the EU.

—Sources: The Associated Press, ABC.com.