Assessing Strategic Exposure: European Defense Post-Iran Conflict (iss.europa.eu)

• Conflict in the Middle East has created significant bottlenecks for US-origin defense exports to Europe.
• Strategic priority shift: Europe must scale domestic alternatives like IRIS-T and SAMP/T to replace US systems.
• Deepening industrial cooperation with Ukraine offers a path to increase production capacity and innovation.

"The Iran-US conflict has exposed critical vulnerabilities in Europe's reliance on American defense hardware. With US production strained and redirected, European rearmament and aid to Ukraine face severe delays. To mitigate this risk, Europe must transition toward domestic production for key systems like long-range air defense, integrate Ukraine’s industrial capacity into the European ecosystem, and demand the localization of US defense production on European soil. This shift is necessary to maintain sovereignty amid shifting American priorities and potential transatlantic political volatility."