The Future of Transatlantic Defence Industry at a Time of Great Power Competition

Adam Meszaros

The Ukraine conflict has reignited the sobering idea of great power competition to the forefront of discussions about defence supplies. NATO’s eastern flank demands reinforcement, prompting European nations to boost defence spending beyond the 2% GDP commitment. Projections suggest a 64% rise to €488 billion by 2026.

This has significant implications for the Netherlands, Europe, and the United States. To address these matters and enable responsible policymaking, resource allocation, and strategizing, key questions need to be explored and addressed:

1. What defines the ‘Transatlantic’ military effort?
2. Is increased spending solely due to Russia’s actions?
3. Will it be able to contain revisionist powers?
4. Should Europe pursue strategic autonomy, and what are the options for it?

This presentation offers insights into the Transatlantic defence landscape, the stances of major European and North American defence companies, and the security of over 1 billion people.

Adam Meszaros is an alumnus of the RUG’s International Security MA program. He served as an Assistant Analyst at The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies and now works for Belanger Crumb & Eschle Consulting as an Analyst.