Sounds Strategic IISS Prague Defence Summit 2025: Reflections
Sep 16, 2025
Ester Sabatino, a Research Associate for Defence and Military Analysis at IISS, joins Meia Nouwens and fellow experts to discuss key insights from the Prague Defence Summit. They delve into the impact of Russia–China cooperation on European defense, advocating for enhanced production capabilities. The conversation also tackles sustainability concerns of soaring defense budgets and explores reforms in procurement strategies within the EU. Additionally, they highlight the role of Indo-Pacific partners in strengthening European security amid geopolitical tensions.
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Europe Must Ramp Up Production
- Mark Rutte warned of growing Russia–China cooperation and urged faster European defence production.
- He argued Europe has the economic capacity but must make political choices to outproduce adversaries.
Momentum Without Unified Priorities
- Panels agreed momentum exists but warned implementation gaps remain across Europe.
- Different threat perceptions and domestic priorities still hinder unified European leadership.
Indo‑Pacific Partners Matter
- Indo-Pacific partners are increasingly relevant due to intertwined security dynamics and capability gaps.
- Partners like ROK, Israel and Japan can quickly plug shortages and enable deeper industrial ties.