Capability
Source · Australia and Britain Seal 50-Year AUKUS Treaty on Nuclear Submarine Cooperation
What is the central argument of “Australia and Britain Seal 50-Year AUKUS Treaty on Nuclear Submarine Cooperation”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
The geopolitical balance in the Indo-Pacific is increasingly shaped by maritime power projection and long-term defence partnerships. As strategic competition intensifies, especially in the context of China’s growing naval capabilities, traditional U.S. allies are deepening their bilateral and trilateral commitments to secure deterrence…
Capability
Source · Asymmetry and the Illusion of Stand-off Superiority
What is the central argument of “Asymmetry and the Illusion of Stand-off Superiority”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
The belief that long-range stand-off capabilities can replace close combat has shaped procurement strategies across Western militaries. Precision strike systems, airpower, and artillery have received disproportionate investment on the assumption that decisive effects could be achieved without exposing ground forces. For defence…
Capability
Source · Washington and Seoul Redefine Their Military Alliance for a New Indo-Pacific Era
What is the central argument of “Washington and Seoul Redefine Their Military Alliance for a New Indo-Pacific Era”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
The alliance between the United States and South Korea is entering a new phase, one defined by flexibility, technological cooperation, and a broader regional mission that extends beyond the Korean Peninsula. During a visit to Seoul and the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ), U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and South Korean Defence Minister Ahn…
Capability
Source · U.S. Defense Contracts Signal Strategic Priorities in Long-Range Fires, Digital Warfare, Autonomy, and AI
What is the central argument of “U.S. Defense Contracts Signal Strategic Priorities in Long-Range Fires, Digital Warfare, Autonomy, and AI”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
In modern defense planning, procurement contracts reveal more than financial transactions; they are markers of strategic intent. The U.S. Department of Defense is allocating resources to ensure superiority in critical domains: long-range precision strike, digital transformation of force structures, multi-domain autonomy, and artificial…
Capability
Source · Total Defense and War Before the War
What is the central argument of “Total Defense and War Before the War”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
The contemporary strategic environment requires a radical rethinking of the concept of defense. Security can no longer be imagined as the mere sum of conventional military capabilities, to be activated only at the moment of armed aggression. The experience of recent decades shows that war does not break out suddenly but matures over…
Capability
Source · Strategic Burden-Shifting in Northeast Asia: U.S. Analysts Call for Deep Troop Cuts in Korea
What is the central argument of “Strategic Burden-Shifting in Northeast Asia”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
A new report released on July 9, 2025 by Defense Priorities, a Washington-based think tank aligned with the "restrainer" school of U.S. foreign policy, proposes a drastic reduction in the U.S. military presence on the Korean Peninsula. Authored by Dan Caldwell and Jennifer Kavanagh, the report recommends slashing U.S. forces in South…
Capability
Source · The SPEED Act and the Strategic Reboot of U.S. Defense Acquisition
What is the central argument of “The SPEED Act and the Strategic Reboot of U.S. Defense Acquisition”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
The introduction of the SPEED Act by the House Armed Services Committee marks a critical inflection point in the evolution of U.S. defense acquisition policy. Rather than pursuing incremental process reforms, House leaders Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) and Adam Smith (D-Calif.) are calling for a structural reset aimed at restoring strategic speed…
Capability
Source · The Return of Black Powder: Bergerac and the New Industrial Geography of French Defence
What is the central argument of “The Return of Black Powder”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
The reopening of gunpowder production in Bergerac represents a paradigmatic case of France’s ongoing industrial rearmament. After nearly twenty years of inactivity following the relocation of operations to Sweden in 2007, Eurenco’s production site in Dordogne has been fully renovated to meet the growing demand for munitions, particularly…
Capability
Source · The NATO Innovation Fund in Crisis: Governance, Strategy and the Future of Allied Deeptech Investment
What is the central argument of “The NATO Innovation Fund in Crisis”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
Two years after its ambitious launch, the €1bn NATO Innovation Fund (NIF) finds itself at a critical crossroads. Designed as a bold, transatlantic initiative to fund deeptech startups and VC funds aligned with allied defence priorities, the NIF was envisioned as a “strategic venture capital” tool to bridge the technological divide…
Capability
Source · The iShares Europe Defence UCITS ETF: Structured Exposure to Europe's Defence Industry
What is the central argument of “The iShares Europe Defence UCITS ETF”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
The iShares Europe Defence UCITS ETF (DFEU) is a physically replicating exchange-traded fund designed to offer targeted exposure to the European defence sector. It tracks the STOXX Europe Targeted Defence Index, which includes publicly listed European companies deriving a significant portion of their revenue from military equipment and…
Capability
Source · The Erosion of the U.S.-Centric Order and the Emergence of Autonomous Security Blocs
What is the central argument of “The Erosion of the U.S.-Centric Order and the Emergence of Autonomous Security Blocs”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
The international system historically anchored to American primacy, consolidated in the aftermath of the Second World War, is now undergoing a structural weakening. This decline is due not only to external challenges but also to self-inflicted setbacks by the United States itself. The core pillars of the U.S.-led order—economic…
Capability
Source · The Defence Industry in Transformation: The Revival of Safran’s Montluçon Site in the New Geopolitical Context
What is the central argument of “The Defence Industry in Transformation”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
In a context of growing international attention to rearmament, the Safran plant in Montluçon stands as a significant example of the transformation underway in the European defence industry. Located in the department of Allier, this factory, specialised in the production of guidance and propulsion kits for AASM bombs (Armement Air-Sol…
Capability
Source · Sweden Strengthens Gripen Fleet with New Saab Launcher Contract
What is the central argument of “Sweden Strengthens Gripen Fleet with New Saab Launcher Contract”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
Sweden has placed a new order with Saab AB for the production of a next-generation launcher system for the Gripen C/D and Gripen E fighter aircraft, marking another key investment in the country’s domestic air combat capabilities. The contract, valued at approximately SEK 1 billion (around €86 million) , was awarded by the Swedish…
Capability
Source · Strengthening Continental Autonomy: The “European Priority” in the €90 Billion Ukraine Support Package
What is the central argument of “Strengthening Continental Autonomy”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
The European Commission has formally advanced a €90 billion financial assistance proposal for Ukraine spanning 2026-2027, signaling a paradigm shift in how the Union balances geopolitical support with industrial sovereignty. While the package—supported by EU leaders and currently in its final legislative stages—aims for April…
Capability
Source · Reviving the Franco-German Axis: A Strategic Pillar for Europe’s Defence
What is the central argument of “Reviving the Franco-German Axis”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
The renewed partnership between France and Germany marks a decisive moment for European security, placing the Franco-German axis once again at the centre of continental defence policy. The joint article by President Emmanuel Macron and Chancellor Friedrich Merz, published ahead of the NATO summit in The Hague, outlines a strategic…
Capability
Source · Redefining the Concept of Victory and the Resilience of Public Opinion
What is the central argument of “Redefining the Concept of Victory and the Resilience of Public Opinion”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
The transformation of contemporary conflicts has undermined the classical notion of victory. In past wars, victory was tied to the conquest of territory, the surrender of the adversary, or the signing of a peace treaty. Today, wars often lack a clear beginning and end, and in many cases they never end at all. We speak of “endless wars,”…
Capability
Source · Putin and the Permanent Testing of Western Defenses
What is the central argument of “Putin and the Permanent Testing of Western Defenses”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
At Defence Finance Monitor we have long argued that Russia’s behavior should not be seen as a string of isolated provocations. Vladimir Putin has adopted a gradual strategy of pressure designed to test not only the technical effectiveness of Western defense systems but, above all, the political resilience of commitments undertaken by the…
Capability
Source · Private Equity Poised for Exits in Booming Defence Sector
What is the central argument of “Private Equity Poised for Exits in Booming Defence Sector”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
With defence valuations soaring, private equity firms that invested in the sector in recent years are now eyeing lucrative exit opportunities . The rapid run-up in military spending and defence company share prices has created a seller’s market for PE owners of defence assets. Many buyout firms moved into defence around 2018–2022 when…
Capability
Source · Power Politics and the Return of Permanent Conflict
What is the central argument of “Power Politics and the Return of Permanent Conflict”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
The return of power politics as the central ordering principle of international relations is one of the defining features of the present era. The notion that globalization and economic interdependence could render geopolitical competition obsolete has been steadily disproven by the events of the past two decades. States such as Russia…
Capability
Source · Piper Sandler Expands into Government Services and Defense Technology M&A with G Squared Acquisition
What is the central argument of “Piper Sandler Expands into Government Services and Defense Technology M&A with G Squared Acquisition”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
In the evolving intersection of finance and national security, the role of investment banks has expanded beyond traditional capital markets into highly specialized advisory services for the defense and government technology sectors. The growth of these markets, driven by rising geopolitical tensions, technological modernization programs…
Capability
Source · Permanent War and Europe’s Strategic Awakening
What is the central argument of “Permanent War and Europe’s Strategic Awakening”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
In recent years, the European strategic debate has revived a theme thought to have been buried with the end of the Cold War: the persistence of war as a structural element of international politics. The wars in the Balkans, the long era of counterterrorism, Russia’s return as a revisionist power, and China’s rise have gradually…
Capability
Source · Over-the-Horizon Radar: A Strategic Partnership Between Australia and Canada
What is the central argument of “Over-the-Horizon Radar”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
In the context of technological advancement in surveillance systems and shifting geopolitical dynamics in the Indo-Pacific and Arctic regions, the cooperation between Australia and Canada on Over-the-Horizon Radar (OTHR) represents a compelling case of alignment between scientific capability, strategic interest, and industrial…
Capability
Source · Market Volatility After Israel’s Strikes on Iran
What is the central argument of “Market Volatility After Israel’s Strikes on Iran”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
Introduction: On 13 June 2025, Israel launched air strikes on Iranian nuclear and missile facilities. Iran responded with drone attacks, briefly raising fears of a broader war. Financial markets reacted sharply: oil and safe-haven assets surged, while equity indices dipped. The ensuing volatility offers a case study in how investors…
Capability
Source · Shifting the Paradigm: Western Military Aid and the Rise of Ukraine’s Indigenous Defense Industry
What is the central argument of “Shifting the Paradigm”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
One of the most consequential transformations in the architecture of post-2022 Western military assistance has not occurred on the battlefield, but within the industrial policy frameworks of allied support to Ukraine. As the war evolves into a long-duration conflict, the logic of emergency resupply—based on the depletion of allied…