European defence industry: preparing for a post-transatlantic future

Levelling up the European defence industry will require vision and action in three major areas: leadership formats and political decision-making; capabilities, procurement and funding; and creating a genuinely European strategic culture. The key task for European countries will be navigating these challenges simultaneously and ensuring that the measures constitute a coherent strategy. Especially France and Germany as the biggest EU member states, alongside the UK, Italy and Poland as partners, should lead the way: the window of opportunity for political ambition in this format is limited in light of the French presidential elections in 2027 and must not be wasted.