Security Policy & Defence
Triannual reports analysing evolving security threats, defence alliances, arms control agreements, and emerging technologies in warfare. Special focus on deterrence strategies and international defence cooperation.
Published three times a year · Peer-reviewed
Germany’s Next Air-Defence Export: A Solution to Jet-Powered Attack Drones?
Cheap, mass-produced interceptors from Munich could help close Europe’s air-defence cost gap, and leave Berlin with a hard choice over selling them to Gulf states under Houthi attack.
German ministers and military forces prepare for the “shadow war”
German military forces take precautions against the hybrid attacks from Russia. The internal threat scale is raised higher.
China Reports Strategic Missile Test Involving Third-Generation Nuclear Submarine
China’s reported test of a strategic missile from a third-generation nuclear submarine highlights its expanding naval capabilities and nuclear deterrence. The development also highlights the role of China’s industrial base and shipbuilding capacity in supporting its broader military modernisation.
The Fiscal Tightrope: Can France Cut Debt Without Losing the Street?
France’s rising public debt is narrowing the government’s economic room for manoeuvre, raising questions about its ability to reconcile fiscal discipline with growing social demands.
China Expands Carrier-Based Stealth Aviation With J-35 Fighters
China’s J-35 stealth fighter aboard the Fujian aircraft carrier could strengthen Beijing’s ability to project air power in the South China Sea. Combined with advanced stealth technology and long-range air-to-air missiles, the aircraft may present new challenges for US naval aviation and regional …
Securing The Future: A Conversation with Christina Riess
Defense executive Christina reflects on her career across aerospace, small and medium-sized enterprises, and entrepreneurship. She shares core leadership insights on risk-taking, industry-politics dynamics, space regulations, and the imperative for European defense sovereignty.
Two people arrested over the fire at Starlink station in Poland
The fire at Starlink station is an excellent example of sabotage and hybrid and cyber war that will take place on the side of the traditional forms of war.
Germany supports Zelenskiy with his difficult duties
The German foreign minister announces preserving support for Ukraine and harder sanctions for Russia.
Rearming Europe: Why Some Countries Are Pulling Ahead
Many European countries have a similar understanding of the need for readiness and rearmament, but for some there remains a clear gap between decisions and actions.
Managing Dependence: Saudi Arabia’s Defence Industrialisation
Saudi Arabia’s defence-industrial strategy reflects an effort to reduce vulnerabilities arising from dependence on foreign arms suppliers while retaining established security partnerships. Riyadh is building domestic capabilities through localisation, technology transfer, joint production and div…
Who Gets Blamed? European Responses to Instrumentalised Migration
This article compares European responses to the 2021 Belarus border crisis and the 2026 migration influx in Ceuta. It examines how differences in attribution and pre-existing divisions over migration policy shaped these responses.
Bridging the Raw Materials Gap in EU Strategic Autonomy
As the European Union strives toward a ‘defence union’ and scaled-up military production under Readiness 2030, its ambitions face a critical bottleneck: severe supply chain vulnerabilities in Critical Raw Materials (CRMs). This brief examines how China’s dominance over key inputs like titanium, g…
Musk, Trump, and Weidel: How US Influence Is Reshaping Germany’s Far Right
The alliance of Musk, Trump, and the AfD shifts foreign influence from covert tactics to open platform amplification. This public model uses algorithmic promotion to bypass old regulations, creating a new framework for leveraging foreign influence in upcoming European elections.
Safer Schools
While school shootings remain a significant concern for schools and policymakers, the increasing number of incidents highlights the need for effective prevention and mitigation measures. This article explores these mitigation measures from early detection to preparedness and emergency response.
Airbus Defence Summit 2026 Event Report
The first Airbus Defence Summit took place on 20 May 2026 in Manching, Germany. Discussions focused on European security and strategic autonomy, with speakers stressing industrial cooperation and dual-use technologies. A dedicated ED2 dialogue engaged Gen Z on deterrence as a shared responsibility.
Selling War: Russia’s Strategy of Deathonomics
In early January 2026, a video of Kenyan Francis Ndung’ Ndarua went viral on social media. In the video, Ndarua is seen with an anti-tank mine strapped to his chest. Russian soldiers had ordered him to storm the Ukrainian front line as a human “can-opener” under humiliation, with racist slurs (CN…
Eurosatory 2026
The report discusses the Eurosatory 2026 exhibition, where industry leaders showcased new technologies and discussed, alongside European defence officials, NATO and research institutions, how industrial resilience, financial mobilisation, rapid innovation, and Ukraine’s battlefield experience are…
European Defence and Security Summit Report
From procurement contracts that ‘insure’ production capacity to the Turkey question, three takeaways from the European Business Summit Defence and Security at the heart of the EU’s defence readiness dilemma: closing today’s gaps while building tomorrow’s autonomy.
Berlin Defense Tech Forum 2026
The Berlin Defense Tech Forum 2026 highlighted that successful defense innovation must be driven by battlefield needs. Ukrainian soldiers emphasized practicality, affordability, and rapid adaptation over technological complexity.
Competing for the Same Budget: EU and NATO Drone Policies
The EU’s DECODER and NATO’s Drone Edge initiatives show overlapping goals and reliance on the same national budgets. While NATO targets fast global delivery, the EU prioritizes long-term European industry sovereignty.