Transforming European Defense

The Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program and the Defense-Industrial Initiatives Group at CSIS provide independent analysis and a concrete plan of action to rationalize European defense through the Transforming European Defense project

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine triggered sudden increases in military spending and the political will to act boldly on defense across Europe. While this is a potentially transformational moment for European security, significant challenges lie ahead. Europe does not just need to spend more on defense, it must also rationalize and integrate its efforts. But while Europe has often discussed the need to reduce fragmentation and unify efforts, it has mostly struggled to followed through. Proposals for rationalizing European defense have repeatedly encountered institutional resistance, bureaucratic turf wars, parochial national outlooks, and vested commercial and political interests. Europe has lacked both the political will and the direction to overcome these obstacles. This has left the continent reliant on the U.S. to fill capability and operational gaps in collective defense and crisis management.   

Europe now has the will but what it lacks is direction. The Transforming European Defense project leverages the strengths of CSIS in political, military analysis, defense industry engagement, and military affairs to provide independent analysis and create a plan of action to rationalize European defense. While the broad goal is to rationalize European defense, it will also develop specific recommendations to European policymakers to reduce redundancies and inefficiencies in procurement and resourcing decisions, as well as to seek creative joint endeavors for niche aspects of European security. The project will also develop recommendations for actionable initiatives that U.S. policymakers can engage with, get behind, and push European allies to implement. This project thus seeks to impact policy on both sides of the Atlantic. 

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Max Bergmann

Max Bergmann

Director, Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program and Stuart Center
Cynthia Cook

Cynthia Cook

Director, Defense-Industrial Initiatives Group and Senior Fellow, International Security Program
Gregory Sanders

Gregory Sanders

Deputy Director and Fellow, Defense-Industrial Initiatives Group
Mathieu Droin

Mathieu Droin

Visiting Fellow, Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program
Sean Monaghan

Sean Monaghan

Visiting Fellow, Europe, Russia and Eurasia Program
Colin Wall

Colin Wall

Former Associate Fellow, Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program
Otto Svendsen

Otto Svendsen

Research Associate, Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program
Sissy Martinez

Sissy Martinez

Program Manager and Research Associate, Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program

All Transforming European Defense Content

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Germany's Financial Attack on NATO

New spending targets will likely dominate the agenda of the upcoming NATO summit in Vilnius, but negotiations on the European Union's fiscal rules could prove much more consequential for the alliance and European security. 

Commentary by Max Bergmann — July 5, 2023

Transforming European Defense Report Launch

Please join the CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program on 6/26 at 2 p.m. EST for a discussion with Max Bergmann, Sean Monaghan and Marie Jourdain, moderated by Donatienne Ruy on the state of European defense following the war in Ukraine.

Event — June 26, 2023

Transforming European Defense: A New Focus on Integration

The war in Ukraine has shifted Europe’s focus back onto defense. But transforming European defense requires deeper European integration. The United States should encourage the European Union to leverage the bloc’s significant fiscal potential to spur cooperation.

Report by Max Bergmann and Otto Svendsen — June 15, 2023

The Chisinau Summit: A Litmus Test for Moldova and the EPC

The stakes are high for the upcoming Summit of the European Political Community, which is being held in Moldova on June 1. It is a political blessing but a logistical challenge for the small country, and the platform must confirm its added value and strategic role.

Commentary by Mathieu Droin and Ilke Toygür — May 26, 2023

Making the Most of the European Sky Shield Initiative

Russia’s bombardment of Ukraine has highlighted shortfalls in air and missile defense capabilities across Europe. To fill these gaps the new German-led "Sky Shield" initiative must overcome challenges of leadership, concepts, cooperation, division of labor and delivery.

Report by Sean Monaghan and John Christianson — May 19, 2023

Europe’s Missing Piece: The Case for Air Domain Enablers

European countries have increased defense spending in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. As they begin to make procurement decisions, this brief examines an under-explored but essential aspect of European defense: critical enabling capabilities in the air domain.

Brief by Colin Wall and John Christianson — April 17, 2023