Read more about the article Romania’s Defence Industry at a Crossroads: Modernising Capabilities and Mitigating Dependencies through SAFE Funding
Research Report

Romania’s Defence Industry at a Crossroads: Modernising Capabilities and Mitigating Dependencies through SAFE Funding

Romania will benefit from over €16 billion in funding through the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) mechanism, the second-largest allocation established by the European Commission. This fuels a newer and unique blend of growth opportunities for its defence capabilities. Romania's defence standing, strongly shaped by the country’s strategic position and its NATO and EU membership, has significant relevance for the traditional security landscape in Eastern Europe and the Black Sea area; more so in light of evolving hybrid threats posed by Russia’s destabilising attempts to extend its sphere of influence in the region. The paper assesses current structural vulnerabilities in Romania’s defence sector, and discusses how industrial cooperation with a host of European partners, if properly pursued, will allow Bucharest to strengthen the competitiveness of the state-owned company ROMARM while also mitigating the risks of external dependency on its closest ally, the U.S., for procurement of military equipment.

Comments Off on Romania’s Defence Industry at a Crossroads: Modernising Capabilities and Mitigating Dependencies through SAFE Funding
13 October 2025
Read more about the article The Modernisation of the Italian Armed Forces after the 2022 Russian Invasion of Ukraine
Info Flash

The Modernisation of the Italian Armed Forces after the 2022 Russian Invasion of Ukraine

The 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine has been a wake-up call for many countries in Europe, which decided to start a comprehensive modernization of their armed forces after decades of neglect. Although traditionally sceptical about prioritising the strengthening of its military, Italy is raising its defence expenditures to address the structural problems of its armed forces, which include a lack of personnel and adequate equipment. While these steps are surely essential, there is more that Italy can do to further improve the condition of its land, naval and air forces, including a better allocation of resources, the integration of innovative weapons systems in its arsenals and an increased proactivity in some European collaborative defence projects.

Comments Off on The Modernisation of the Italian Armed Forces after the 2022 Russian Invasion of Ukraine
29 October 2024
Read more about the article The Imperative of Joint Procurement in Europe: Defragmenting our Defence Industry
Info Flash

The Imperative of Joint Procurement in Europe: Defragmenting our Defence Industry

The 2023 ‘Future Shocks’ report of the European Parliamentary Research Service points out the drastic changes to the European security landscape following the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the return of war on European soil (EPRS, 2023). Europe faces a multi-faceted conventional and non-conventional threat that requires short-, medium-, and long-term action from European policymakers (Anghel, 2023). The European defence architecture ought to be transformed deeply to face the new geostrategic urgency (Anghel, 2023). The key lies in greater and more collaborative investments. It is both economically and strategically untenable to operate in silos when it comes to defence. Billions are lost every year and defence capabilities remain insufficient, outdated, and lack interoperability. Should Europeans have any hope of holding a leading role in the geopolitical environment of today, it is imperative to increase collaborative efforts across the EU.

Comments Off on The Imperative of Joint Procurement in Europe: Defragmenting our Defence Industry
5 October 2023