Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago
Since the invasion of Ukraine, European states have taken major steps to rebuild their defense industrial bases, both to supply Ukraine and rebuild their own militaries. Europe has been spending heavily on defense since 2022, but the Trump administration's demand for European NATO members to take responsibility for the conventional defense of the continent has spurred further defense investments. Add the Trump administration's bellicose rhetoric around Greenland and public doubts about the reliability of the United States in NATO, and the dual challenges of a resurgent Russia and a wavering United States strengthens the push for European officials to contemplate further defense integration. As European states continue to rearm in 2026, they face the prospect of rebuilding their militaries, supporting Ukraine, and deterring Russia with less U.S. support.
The new year has already shown a propensity for the unexpected. To help us take stock of the way ahead for European security in 2026, we are excited to welcome Sophia Besch and Christian Mölling to Brussels Sprouts.
Sophia Besch is a senior fellow in the Europe Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
Christian Mölling is the director of European Defense in a New Age, a Berlin-based think tank, and is a senior advisor at the European Policy Centre.
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Learn more about CNAS at cnas.org
Follow CNAS on:
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Since the invasion of Ukraine, European states have taken major steps to rebuild their defense industrial bases, both to supply Ukraine and rebuild their own militaries. Europe has been spending heavily on defense since 2022, but the Trump administration's demand for European NATO members to take responsibility for the conventional defense of the continent has spurred further defense investments. Add the Trump administration's bellicose rhetoric around Greenland and public doubts about the reliability of the United States in NATO, and the dual challenges of a resurgent Russia and a wavering United States strengthens the push for European officials to contemplate further defense integration. As European states continue to rearm in 2026, they face the prospect of rebuilding their militaries, supporting Ukraine, and deterring Russia with less U.S. support.
The new year has already shown a propensity for the unexpected. To help us take stock of the way ahead for European security in 2026, we are excited to welcome Sophia Besch and Christian Mölling to Brussels Sprouts.
Sophia Besch is a senior fellow in the Europe Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
Christian Mölling is the director of European Defense in a New Age, a Berlin-based think tank, and is a senior advisor at the European Policy Centre.
Subscribe to Brussels Sprouts at:
Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brussels-sprouts/id1238007695
Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/2FUjDDsM54EOlFpThjzHIp?si=f9c66db6638d499c
Learn more about CNAS at cnas.org
Follow CNAS on:
• Twitter: twitter.com/cnasdc
• Facebook: facebook.com/cnasdc
• Instagram: instagram.com/cnasdc
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/center-for-a-new-american-security
