Opinion: Milena's World
How can Europe avoid repeating the mistakes made during the interwar years?
In 1919 Czech journalist Milena Jesenská wrote of a Vienna that “sung and played more waltzes and frivolous operettas than ever before,” while simultaneously describing how the same Vienna “was dying away, full of reparation committees, while its political leaders traveled the world over requesting aid.” Today, this macabre scene is once again playing out across a Europe reeling from the social, economic, and political consequences of the war in Ukraine. However, as dire as this situation may be, it provides a unique opportunity for policymakers to address vulnerabilities in both NATO’s defense and technological infrastructure. To do this, the EU’s defense industrial base must be consolidated, procurement strategy coordinated, and transatlantic collaboration enhanced. With these changes, a lethargic Europe will emerge stronger, more unified, and capable of meeting the renewed threat from Russia.
Historically, Europe's defense sector has been heavily reliant on U.S. technology and procurement. Post-World War II, Europe's dependence on American firms established it as a branch plant economy, creating a vulnerability that persists today. The inefficiencies of this dependency became evident when European leaders failed to meet their ammunition supply commitments to Ukraine in late 2023. This failure highlighted the need for a robust, self-sufficient European Defense and Technological Industrial Base (EDTIB). To secure the supply and production of critical technologies, Europe must implement rapid consolidation of its fragmented defense industries and normalize joint procurements. McKinsey & Company reports that the EU could save over 30% annually on acquisition by adopting these practices. This will not only streamline weapons procurement but also enhance Europe’s ability to respond to dynamic demands and reduce dependency on U.S. suppliers. By developing a more integrated EDTIB, Europe can better address production shortfalls and meet the strategic needs of its member states.
In addition to this, the EU must also establish a coordinated procurement strategy to safeguard critical technology supplies. Currently, Europe's defense procurement is split across borders, leading to inefficiencies and gaps in capability. An interstate approach to procurement, where members purchase weapons together and source them domestically, is essential. This strategy minimizes delays and reduces costs ensuring that critical technologies are produced and available throughout NATO.
An interstate approach to procurement, where members purchase weapons together and source them domestically, is essential. This strategy minimizes delays and reduces costs
Moreover, Europe and North America must enhance their transatlantic cooperation to secure critical technology supplies. The U.S. and Europe need to deepen their partnership by creating joint ventures for research and development, sharing technological innovations, and coordinating responses to supply chain disruptions. Establishing frameworks for collaborative defense initiatives will strengthen both regions' capabilities and ensure resilience against new geopolitical threats.
Lastly, addressing the supply and production of critical technologies requires a difficult up-front investment in a workforce. As defense and technology sectors evolve, the need for skilled labor grows. NATO must invest in education and training programs to build a workforce adept in emerging technologies and capable of supporting an innovative defense industry.
As the discotheques stay packed while the bombs fall merely a border away, policymakers have the choice to address these problems. If industrial policy can be coordinated, jointly procurements normalized, and cooperation enhanced, NATO will emerge stronger for it. Milena Jesenská’s politicians of the interwar years failed to meet aggression with strength–will today’s fail as well?