Defence policy is usually discussed as a national security issue, but its economic effects are often highly local. This column presents new evidence from 1,011 regions in 15 European countries suggesting that places hosting defence production and supply chain activity have a larger economic footprint than comparable places without such activity: they enjoy higher income…
The new defence investment plan is weighed down by the habits of Britain’s defence establishment. By contrast, the British public appear readier to accept change.
Russia is expanding its nuclear-capable, long-range weapon systems to press Europe and fracture NATO. Europeans need to plug the gaps in their nuclear capabilities and create a strategic deterrent that can function without US support
The next Trump crisis will come. European governments facing American pressure will need to weigh the costs and benefits of their responses. Here are two scenarios to show what resistance costs, and why those costs are lower than they appear
A major ECFR poll finds the European public, in a time of rupture, thinking differently and questioning old assumptions. It reveals new political space available to their leaders (for now) and challenges them to use it
Jordan Bardella is the frontrunner in the French presidential election next year. His win would transform France’s place in Europe. This scenario shows how
The Russian threat is not going away any time soon. To defend themselves without America’s help, Europeans need to pursue a new, distinctly European model of defence and deterrence
Ten years on from the referendum, the British electorate has moved on from its old divisions and—in a world of crisis—is embracing an ambitious move back towards the European Union
Europe’s security architecture is undergoing profound change. As the US reassesses its global priorities and questions grow over the future of transatlantic security, European governments face mounting pressure to strengthen their defence capabilities and rethink longstanding assumptions about NATO. In the second episode of Making Defence European Again, Celia Bélin, policy fellow and head of…
As Russia’s war against Ukraine continues, European governments are facing difficult questions about military support, diplomacy and the long-term security of the continent. How should Europe balance continued assistance to Ukraine with preparations for future negotiations? In the final episode of Making Defence European Again, Celia Bélin, policy fellow and head of ECFR’s Paris office,…