People’s Daily republished an article from the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Daily arguing that Europe continues to face formidable obstacles to achieving defense industrial autonomy despite years of increased spending and ambitious policy initiatives. Citing the collapse of the Franco-German-Spanish Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program after nearly a decade of disputes, the article argues that deep political and structural divisions continue to hinder Europe’s efforts to build an independent defense industry.
The article identifies four major challenges: poorly coordinated defense spending, limited industrial capacity, technological dependence on the United States, and conflicting national interests. It notes that although European defense spending has risen sharply since the outbreak of the Russia–Ukraine war, a large share of procurement has gone to non-European suppliers, particularly U.S. defense contractors. It also argues that European defense manufacturers continue to face production bottlenecks, underinvestment in research and development, and fragmented procurement practices that limit economies of scale.
According to the article, these challenges stem from deeper structural constraints, including member states’ reluctance to cede sovereignty over defense policy, Europe’s longstanding reliance on the NATO security framework, and a fragmented defense market. It concludes that political divisions—rather than industrial capacity alone—will remain the principal obstacle to Europe’s pursuit of strategic and defense industrial autonomy.
Source: People’s Daily, July 13, 2026
http://military.people.com.cn/n1/2026/0713/c1011-40759395.html