EU-Japan Strategic Partnership: Asian Influence on European Defence

The EU-Japan Security and Defence Partnership marks a transformative chapter in transregional cooperation, reflecting shared values of democracy, multilateralism, and the rule of law. This paper explores the brief evolution, core components, and strategic implications of the partnership that highlight its significance in addressing contemporary security challenges. Japan’s departure from its pacifist stance and increased integration into global defence frameworks, such as the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) and NATO interoperability, complement the EU’s aspirations for strategic autonomy and expanded influence in the Indo-Pacific. Key areas of the proposed cooperation include military collaboration, cybersecurity, and space defence. Both actors agree on the alignment of strategic interests to counter threats from authoritarian regimes, regional instabilities, and hybrid warfare. The partnership also emphasises capacity-building initiatives to promote peace and stability globally. The paper argues that this partnership serves as a model for navigating geopolitical tensions in the Pacific theatre, including the challenges posed by China, North Korea, and Russia. Amidst uncertainties, such as the impact of the invasion of Ukraine and foreign policy shifts in the American presidency, the EU-Japan alliance represents a pivotal step toward resilient strategic autonomy in the region.

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The Economies of Scale of Joint Defence Procurement

This paper examines the role of economies of scale in addressing inefficiencies within the fragmented European defence sector. Despite ongoing geopolitical challenges, Europe’s defence industry struggles with duplicated efforts, inflated costs, and a lack of standardisation due to its decentralised structure. The analysis explores the historical roots of fragmentation, evaluates current debates on defence spending efficiency, and outlines strategies such as aggregating demand, increasing joint procurement, promoting consolidation, fostering cross-border collaboration, and reinforcing European preference in procurement. Theoretical insights into economies of scale highlight the potential for reducing costs and enhancing production capabilities, particularly through unified procurement and joint industrial efforts. The study further investigates the constraints faced by both major defence contractors and SMEs, as well as recent European Commission initiatives, including coordinated R&D at the pan-European level. Concluding with actionable policy recommendations, the paper provides a roadmap for consolidating Europe’s defence industry, emphasising the necessity of strategic integration and collective investment to enhance the continent’s strategic autonomy and industrial resilience.

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Episode 6: European Military Support for Ukraine

In this episode of StrategicALLY, hosts Zsigmond Tar and Katharina Brzuska discuss with Gustav Gressel, an expert in Eastern Europe, Russia and in military affairs, the European military support for Ukraine. Drawing from valuable experience at the Austrian Ministry of Defence and the European Council on Foreign Relations, he offers details on the current situation in Ukraine and explains how the war has evolved through nearly three years. As we address areas such as the coordination of arms deliveries, the role of advanced weapons and drone warfare, this episode aims to provide insight into the challenges Ukraine faces in maintaining its defence and sovereignty. The sounds for this podcast were edited by Irina Antonescu.

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Episode 5: AI and Geoeconomics: Understanding Europe’s Security Landscape

In this episode of StrategicALLY, hosts Belén Padrón Salinas and Zsigmond Tar sit down with Heiko Borchert, owner and manager of Borchert Consulting & Research AG, a strategic affairs consulting company that focuses a broad range of security issues. We will discuss the dynamics of geoeconomics and artificial intelligence for the defence industries in Europe, touching aspects such as the security of supply chains, interoperability and the modernisation of European militaries. Mr Borchert shares his expertise on the application of artificial intelligence and the geoeconomic aspects for armed forces and defence industries in Europe. As co-author of the book ‘The Very Long Game’ where 25 different countries are analysed as case studies for implementing AI in the militaries, Mr Borchert provides us valuable information on the modernisation of militaries across Europe. The podcast recording and sounds have been edited by Irina Antonescu.

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Assessing Reprisals as an Alternative to Judicial Proceedings for Enforcing Compliance with International Humanitarian Law

Countermeasures are an established mechanism in International Law that allows a State to respond to the unlawful actions of another. This tool enables the injured State to act in a way that would otherwise be illegal, with the objective of compelling the breaching State to cease its violations. Similarly, the concept of belligerent reprisals refers to a similar mechanism in International Humanitarian Law (IHL), which allows a State to violate IHL rules in response to the previous violations of another State in order to enforce compliance. It has been a part of armed conflicts throughout history, and its codification can be traced back to the earliest iterations of IHL. Over time, the scope and permissibility of reprisals have become significantly more constrained. Today, their regulation is primarily governed by customary International Humanitarian Law (CIHL), which draws upon the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Customary Rules and established case law. This article will examine the exact legal boundaries of belligerent reprisals and evaluate the practice.

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