Europe moves toward defense autonomy, reducing US weapons reliance

At the NATO summit in Ankara, U.S. defense firms secured major contracts while European leaders announced steps to lessen dependence on American armaments. Lockheed Martin and Germany's Rheinmetall signed a memorandum to co‑produce ATACMS missiles in Germany, aiming to boost European stockpiles without harming U.S. industry.

Europe is also advancing its own air‑defence and long‑range strike capabilities. The Franco‑Italian SAMP/T NG system and Germany's IRIS‑T missiles are slated for deployment in the late 2020s, and the European Long‑Range Strike Approach (ELSA) program brings together France, Germany, the United Kingdom and others to develop new cruise missiles, hypersonic weapons and drones, with full independence expected in the early 2030s.