Modern War Institute A Survey of Europe's Defense and Security Landscape
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May 31, 2025 Ed Arnold, a Senior Research Fellow for European Security at the Royal United Services Institute, joins to explore the seismic shifts in Europe’s defense landscape following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. He discusses how this event has galvanized NATO and the EU, enhancing collective defense strategies among member states. Arnold highlights the varying roles of smaller nations and the complexities within Europe's defense industry. The conversation delves into the pressing need for military readiness and the implications of upcoming NATO summits for Euro-Atlantic unity.
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NATO Cohesion and Defense Shifts
- The 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine unified Europe but exposed cracks in NATO cohesion due to varied member readiness for Article 3 vs. Article 5 defense.
- Larger NATO members focus on self-defense, while smaller states often expect collective defense, marking a strategic shift.
Hyper-Specialization in European Defense
- Europe must adopt hyper-specialization by regionalizing defense roles due to differing geographic and strategic needs.
- This approach improves efficiency by having nations focus resources on specific regional threats instead of diffuse commitments.
Focus on Regional Defense Strengths
- Nations should focus on regional defense strengths like Arctic specialization or heavy territorial defense aligned to their geography.
- Prioritize capabilities that match expected combat zones rather than spreading resources thinly across all fronts.