From pledges to capabilities: Europe’s defence spending and Germany’s strategic shift

Europe’s defence posture is evolving rapidly — but is the pace of change sustainable? In this episode, IISS experts examine global and regional defence spending trends, the EU’s emerging industrial initiatives and the implications of Germany’s policy shift. 

Host Meia Nouwens is joined by Fenella McGerty, Ester Sabatino and Ben Schreer to discuss whether current trends represent a pivot in European strategic capability or if policy ambition will be constrained by economic and political realities. 

Key themes include: 

• Drivers behind global and European defence spending increases 
• The EU’s ReArm Europe 
• Constraints on joint procurement and industrial scalability 
• Germany’s budget shift and prospects for sustained leadership 
• Geopolitical uncertainties and potential disruptors 

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Date of Recording: 24 March 2025   

The podcast is recorded and produced by the IISS. 

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