The White Paper on Defence: How a Single Market Can Boost Efficiency and Interoperability

The 2025 White Paper on Defence outlines a strategic framework for enhancing European security through greater financial incentives, integration, and strategic autonomy. Aiming to address significant gaps such as underinvestment, industrial fragmentation, and capability deficiencies, the White Paper proposes a Single Market for Defence to streamline procurement, boost innovation, and strengthen partnerships. This article conducts a policy-driven critical analysis to assess the feasibility of the ambitious initiative, outlining the implications for reaching full-spectrum interoperability in the European defence sector. The paper emphasises that despite financial and political challenges, implementing a Single Market for Defence would establish a more resilient and autonomous European security architecture, ensuring preparedness against evolving security threats.

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Hungary and European Defence: Political Rhetoric vs Military Reality

Hungary is often perceived as a political outlier within the European Union and NATO due to its government’s controversial stance on Russia and Ukraine. However, despite diplomatic tensions, Hungary has actively modernised its military and strengthened its defence industry in line with European security objectives. This paper examines Hungary’s post-Cold War military decline and subsequent revitalisation through the Zrínyi 2026 programme. It highlights Hungary’s threat perception, its role in NATO and EU missions, joint exercises, and interoperability efforts, demonstrating that while political disagreements persist, Hungary remains an integral part of European defence structures. The research sheds light on the contrast between Hungary’s political positioning and its military commitments.

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A regulatory roadmap to EU’s Security of Supply in Defence: Assessing the current legal framework effort and the next steps toward an effective Security of Supply Strategy

Security of Supply in Defence has progressively shifted from being the sole interest of Member States to an area where the EU plays an increasingly important role. From the Directive on Defence Procurement and Intra-EU transfers to ASAP and EDIRPA, this paper examines the potential and limitations of the EU legal framework in supporting the Union’s Security of Supply. This analysis will lead us to consider the EU’s ability to ensure robust Security of Supply further through its EDIP proposal, marking a new step toward strategic autonomy.

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Long-Range Capabilities Development in Ukraine: Current Projects and Implications for Europe

The 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine demonstrated how crucial long-range capabilities are in modern warfare. After a brief overview of Ukraine and Russia’s situation in this area at the beginning of the hostilities as well as the Western policy over missile supplies to Ukraine, this paper analyses how Ukraine has focused on the development of domestic long-range munitions to pursue a more autonomous strategic interdiction campaign against Russia, increasing its future deterrence potential. The study also discusses what implications these projects could have on future European missile capabilities in the context of an uncertain security environment and increased disengagement from the United States vis a vis European security.

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Rapid Response in a Changing World: The New Force Model (NFM) as a Game Changer for NATO’s Readiness?

The New Force Model (NFM) represents a fundamental shift in NATO’s defence posture. This strategy is designed to enhance rapid deployment, deterrence, and interoperability in response to the current volatile geopolitical context characterised by evolving security threats. This study examines the NFM’s origins, structural evolution, and operational implications, particularly considering Russia’s aggression and the new dimensions of hybrid warfare. A key element of this transformation is the Allied Reaction Force (ARF), whose multi-domain capabilities are currently being assessed through Steadfast Dart 2025 (STDT25), NATO’s largest military exercise of the year. The findings highlight progress in force readiness while underscoring persistent challenges, including logistical coordination and multinational integration. As NATO adapts to modern warfare, refining the NFM will be essential to maintaining credible deterrence and collective defence.

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