EUDIS, HEDI, DIANA: What's behind Three Defense Innovation Acronyms?
In Europe, with Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine showing little sign of abating, a persistent gap remains between security needs and defense spending. According to a 2006 commitment enshrined at the 2014 Wales NATO summit, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) members should disburse no less than 2% of their national gross domestic product (GDP) on defense, out of which 20% is to be spent on equipment and research and development. In 2024, only 23 Allies out of 32 are expected to meet or exceed this target, though a significant improvement from only three in 2014. This total includes the United States (US) devoting 3.38% of its GDP to defense, constituting almost 70% of all NATO member defense spending combined.
EUDIS, HEDI and DIANA are three recent policy instruments meant to encourage defense innovation in Europe, and beyond. Fielded by the European Commission, the European Defence Agency (EDA) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), respectively, these seemingly comparable defense investment instruments underline key challenges confronting European defense
They stand for competing national visions: European supranational, intergovernmental, as well as transatlantic defense perspectives in differing and diverging combinations.
EUDIS, HEDI and DIANA highlight the persistent gap with European defense objectives set 20 years ago, most notably the divide between stated ambitions and actual means invested.
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EUDIS, HEDI, DIANA: What's behind Three Defense Innovation Acronyms?
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