Defense Spending in Wartime: Balancing Politics, Industry, and Society

• Development and External Relations Service

From public trust to industrial capacity, this session brings together experts and policymakers to discuss how Europe can sustain credible defence investment in times of economic and political strain.

As Europe continues to face prolonged insecurity and the return of high-intensity conflict, sustaining increased defence spending has become not only a strategic necessity but also a political and societal challenge. This side event explored how democratic societies can maintain long-term investment in defence while preserving economic stability and public support.

Speakers discussed how governments, industry, and citizens can align around shared defence priorities, as well as how to communicate the importance of resilience and readiness in times of fiscal pressure and growing public fatigue. The discussion also highlighted the importance of consensus for the defence industry, where long-term planning and investment depend on political predictability and societal backing.

Bringing together perspectives from different institutional and national contexts, the session examined practical approaches to balancing political constraints, industrial capacity, and societal consent, with the aim of ensuring that Europe’s security efforts remain both credible and democratically legitimate.