To meet NATO’s 5 percent benchmark, allies need more industrial capacity. Here’s how they can build it.

EnergySource Nov 14, 2024

Europe’s new industrial plan faces formidable obstacles

By Andrei Covatariu

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has promised to put forth in her second term a new Clean Industrial Deal to mobilize investment in infrastructure and industry, and reduce dependence on energy imports. But energy supply challenges and geopolitical hurdles risk undermining plans to restore Europe’s industrial competitiveness.
Defense Industry Energy & Environment
To meet NATO’s 5 percent benchmark, allies need more industrial capacity. Here’s how they can build it.

New Atlanticist Oct 30, 2024

In defense of Draghi’s defense idea: Three models for a centralized defense procurer for the EU

By Thomas Goldstein

Only a European defense procurer can provide the institutional reform to overcome intra- and intergovernmental paralysis and invest at scale.
Defense Industry Defense Policy
To meet NATO’s 5 percent benchmark, allies need more industrial capacity. Here’s how they can build it.

New Atlanticist Oct 28, 2024

The US needs a stronger defense industrial base. Option contracts can help.

By Michael Hogan

The US government would pay a premium on current orders, but it would then have the option to purchase a larger amount within a fixed timeframe.
Defense Industry Defense Policy

Content

New Atlanticist

Jul 23, 2025

To meet NATO’s 5 percent benchmark, allies need more industrial capacity. Here’s how they can build it.

By James Hursch, Kristen Taylor

Without more industrial muscle to increase defense production, the positive momentum coming out of The Hague summit could grind to a halt.

Defense Industry
Europe & Eurasia

In the News

Jul 22, 2025

Stephen Rodriguez in War on the Rocks on the defense industrial paradigm

On July 22, Stephen Rodriguez, senior advisor at Forward Defense, published a piece in War on the Rocks entitled “Titans, Trailblazers, and Translators: Forging a Unified Defense Industrial Paradigm”. Rodriguez, working at the intersection of the defense industrial base and technologies, identifies a growing tension between the two. To address this challenge to enduring national […]

Defense Industry
Defense Technologies

New Atlanticist

Jul 17, 2025

Macron and Starmer have a plan to reset Anglo-French relations. What’s in this ‘Entente Industrielle’?

By Philippe Dickinson

The French president’s three-day trip to the United Kingdom saw several notable and welcome announcements. But the real test will be what comes next.

Defense Industry
France

New Atlanticist

Jul 15, 2025

In the Indo-Pacific, US defense industrial partnerships go much deeper than AUKUS submarines

By Adam Kozloski, Markus Garlauskas

The US review of AUKUS should be understood as part of a larger US effort to accelerate defense industry cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.

Australia
Defense Industry

UkraineAlert

Jul 14, 2025

Russia’s bombing campaign is killing record numbers of Ukrainian civilians

By Peter Dickinson

As Russia's bombing campaign continues to escalate, June 2025 saw the highest monthly casualties among the Ukrainian civilian population in more than three years, according to new data from the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission, writes Peter Dickinson.

Conflict
Defense Industry

New Atlanticist

Jul 11, 2025

Three ways NATO can shift defense industrial capacity into high gear

By David Julazadeh, Kristen Taylor

The Alliance’s deterrence rests on more than unity—it depends on speed, readiness, and industrial credibility.

Defense Industry
Europe & Eurasia

New Atlanticist

Jul 8, 2025

Europe has ideas for how to provide for its own security. The US should take notice.

By Katherine Johnson

Washington should recognize and embrace Europe's fresh ideas for how to provide for its own security, such as the European Defence Mechanism.

Defense Industry
Defense Policy

UkraineAlert

Jul 8, 2025

Putin is winning the drone war as Russia overwhelms Ukraine’s defenses

By Maksym Beznosiuk

Russia is now winning the drone war against Ukraine thanks to a massive increase in domestic drone production and a series of technological upgrades, writes Maksym Beznosiuk. This is enabling Putin to dramatically escalate the bombardment of Ukrainian cities.

Conflict
Defense Industry

New Atlanticist

Jul 3, 2025

Finnish President Alexander Stubb on why The Hague summit marks ‘the birth of new NATO’

By Katherine Golden

There is significant “burden shifting” underway in NATO, which is “a good thing for Europe and for the Alliance right now,” Stubb said at an Atlantic Council Front Page event.

Conflict
Defense Industry

Issue Brief

Jul 3, 2025

A US defense strategy to win the next conflict

By Clementine G. Starling-Daniels

Amid rising global tensions and rapid technological change, the forthcoming National Defense Strategy is set to reshape US military strategy. Its success hinges on five key priorities.

Defense Industry
Defense Policy
Load More

Experts

Fellow

Jongsun Kim

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Industry Defense Policy

Fellow

Hannah Hunt

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Industry Defense Technologies

Fellow

Owen J. Daniels

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Industry Defense Policy

Fellow

Tom Mancinelli

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoStrategy Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Industry Defense Policy

Staff

Maeve Cuddy

Assistant Director

Forward Defense Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Defense Industry Defense Policy
Jonathan Green is a nonresident senior fellow at the GeoStrategy Initiative in the Atlantic Council's Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security.

Fellow

Jonathan Green

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoStrategy Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Afghanistan Defense Industry
Load More

Events

Public Event Thu, December 11, 2025 • 1:00 pm ET

2025 Critical Minerals Supply Chains Summit
Defense Industry Economy & Business Energy & Environment Geopolitics & Energy Security