Europe’s Drive for Strategic Autonomy in Defence Innovation

Europe’s bid for strategic autonomy in defence innovation is a long-term effort facing significant obstacles but also growing momentum. Entrenched market fragmentation and outside dependencies will not disappear overnight. Analysts caution that unless European countries coordinate – pooling procurement and consolidating demand – higher defence spending may simply drive up prices without closing capability gaps.

Yet recent years have brought unprecedented political and financial commitment to chart a new path. Collaborative funding schemes, cross-border industrial projects and supportive policies are gradually establishing the foundations of a self-reliant European defence industrial base.

This analysis answers: What is the central argument of “Europe’s Drive for Strategic Autonomy in Defence Innovation”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets? What does this mean for European defence funding, procurement and investment decisions? How mature and defensible is the position described in “Europe’s Drive for Strategic Autonomy in Defence Innovation”? Which European actors, programmes and funding instruments are most exposed?