INSIGHTS
BY GRAYLING
The recently held 2025 NATO Summit marked a pivotal
moment for the Alliance, with leaders agreeing to a
historic increase in defence spending - raising the
target from 2% to 5% of GDP by 2035.
Prompted by renewed U.S. pressure and escalating
global security threats, the summit emphasized the
urgent need to scale up defence production, foster
innovation, and deepen transatlantic defence industrial
cooperation. These efforts aim to deliver a strategic
leap forward in NATO’s collective defence capabilities.
In sum, the CEE region is rapidly evolving into a
cornerstone of European defence. While political
divergences persist - particularly regarding the war in
Ukraine- the overarching trajectory is one of increased
investment, modernisation, and alignment with NATO
and EU security objectives. The region’s ability to sustain
this momentum will depend on continued political will,
industrial capacity, and strategic coordination.
01 Jul • PDF