July 29, 2025

Who Should Coordinate Europe’s Defense Buildup?

By: Sara Moller

This article was originally published in Defense One.

Europe is finally putting real money behind defense, but a deeper problem remains: who or what will coordinate this new security effort?

With the European Union’s recently announced ReArm Europe Plan—a multi-pillar framework aimed at boosting defense investment—the money is beginning to flow, and European capitals are starting to ramp up their defense budgets accordingly. Long-delayed plans to rebuild hollowed-out armed forces are moving forward. Public and private sectors are beginning to align to revive Europe’s defense industrial base.

Who will coordinate the surge in defense spending about to get underway?

So far, the debate over the future of the European security landscape has largely focused on military capabilities. In recent months, policymakers and analysts on both sides of the Atlantic have focused on identifying weapons and capabilities European countries should prioritize on their defense shopping lists. This is understandable in an era of burden-shifting, when the U.S. role as Europe’s primary security provider is likely to diminish.

But Europe’s defense challenge is as much organizational as it is operational. Reconstituting itself as a credible security actor after decades of strategic neglect requires more than funding and procurement. This is a question not simply of resources but of institutional design and coordination. The choices made now—not only about who leads and commands forces in future European security contingencies, but also about who facilitates and manages the coming wave of defense investment—will shape Europe’s ability to act decisively and coherently for decades to come.

Read the full article on Defense One.

More from CNAS

View All Reports View All Articles & Multimedia