AW&ST: What is the outlook for defense spending in Europe post-pandemic? Are you concerned we could see a repeat of what happened after the 2008 financial crash? I do not believe we are witnessing a repeat of the decrease in defense spending that followed the aftermath of the financial crisis. Quite the contrary; today the international system, and the place of Europe within it, is substantially different from a decade ago. As European countries recover from the pandemic, I foresee technological innovation and geopolitical constraints driving new defense investments. First, the impact of new technologies is already reshaping strategic thinking across the world. The growing digitalization of military applications underscores the importance of cybersecurity, and space development is increasing the number of countries jousting for "space dominance," stimulating competition and investment on key dual-use technologies such as satellites and launchers.
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