Defense spending is estimated to reach at least 3% of the gross domestic product of the European Union member states by 2040, amid the escalation of security challenges, which require an increased budgetary effort, according to the Deloitte study “The Future of Defence 2040. Four scenarios for Europe’s future security architecture”. In 2025, EU member states’ defence budgets reached 2.1% of GDP (around €381 billion), according to the latest data from the European Defence Agency. Alongside the