European Defence & Security Summit 2026

Kuhusu Tukio Hili

Europe enters 2026 at a decisive moment for its defence and security posture, as the era of strategy gives way to the era of delivery. Commitments on defence spending, industrial mobilisation and collective deterrence are no longer defined by political intent alone, but by their translation into operational capability and measurable readiness. Following the White Paper on European Defence and the Defence Readiness Roadmap 2030, supported by the European Defence Industrial Strategy, EDIP and the ReArm Europe Plan, the focus has shifted firmly toward implementation, joint procurement and industrial scale-up. These efforts unfold in a deteriorating security environment marked by persistent hybrid threats and intensifying geopolitical competition, including in the Arctic. As transatlantic coordination remains essential, Europe’s credibility increasingly depends on its capacity to act decisively and sustain resilience. The Summit therefore places readiness, governance and industrial execution at the centre of Europe’s security trajectory toward 2030.