Europe and United States Boost Defense Production and Spending

European governments are rapidly increasing defense investment and building a sovereign military capacity. A Foreign Affairs analysis notes that EU defence spending reached about $402 billion in 2024, with Germany alone planning to spend $172 billion by 2029 – roughly 3.6 % of its GDP – and re‑introducing voluntary conscription. Public opinion surveys show a sharp decline in confidence in U.S. security guarantees and strong support for EU‑wide defence funding and domestically produced weapons.

In the United States, the Pentagon is exploring a “McDonald’s‑style” manufacturing approach to cut missile costs and delivery times. Start‑ups such as Co‑Aspire, Anduril and Castelion are piloting assembly‑line production and 3D‑printed components, aiming to deliver thousands of low‑cost missiles, including 12,000 hypersonic weapons over five years at about $400,000 each. Officials warn that cheaper, rapidly built weapons may sacrifice precision and reliability, requiring new procurement criteria.