Daniel Fiott

Publications

  • The Three Images of EU Strategic Autonomy: Perspectives on Wedging, Binding and Hedging

    The Three Images of EU Strategic Autonomy: Perspectives on Wedging, Binding and Hedging

    This article considers concepts of European Union Strategic Autonomy in light of the growing scholarly literature on wedging and binding. The article presents three ideal types of strategic autonomy as the images of ‘responsibility’, ‘hedging’ and ‘independence’. It assesses each of these images against the wedging and binding strategies of the United States and China.… Read more

  • Return on Investment? Understanding the Rationales for Increased Military Expenditure in Europe

    Return on Investment? Understanding the Rationales for Increased Military Expenditure in Europe

    As an academic discipline, defence economics leans towards the conclusion that military expenditure does not contribute to economic growth, and, to the extent that it does, it is in limited areas. Ultimately, governments cannot justify defence expenditure based solely on potential economic returns, as military and strategic justifications are just as – if not more… Read more

  • Counting on the Cloud? NATO, Digital Modernisation and Cloud Computing

    Counting on the Cloud? NATO, Digital Modernisation and Cloud Computing

    NATO is enhancing its defence and deterrence in the face of grave geopolitical risks. While the major focus in 2025 is on ramping up the manufacturing of ammunition, missiles, tanks, armoured vehicles and more, there is a risk that the digital elements of the Alliance’s security and defence are marginalised or neglected. Indeed, the war… Read more

  • Money is Not Everything: How to Enhance the EU’s Security and Defence Readiness

    Money is Not Everything: How to Enhance the EU’s Security and Defence Readiness

    The war in Ukraine and worrying shifts in the transatlantic relationship are forcing EU member states and institutions to think more seriously about Europe’s security and defence. Although the EU has had a Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) since the early 2000s, it is only in recent years that it has taken a comprehensive… Read more

  • The Defence Dilemma: Can Spain Ride Europe’s Defence Revival?

    The Defence Dilemma: Can Spain Ride Europe’s Defence Revival?

    Defence has become a public policy area of the highest priority in Europe. As the war in Ukraine rages on and the second Trump administration encourages Europeans to take ownership of conventional defence within NATO, the European Union (EU) has launched a flurry of initiatives in recent years to bolster Europe’s military capabilities and revitalise Europe’s defence industrial… Read more

  • Defence Innovation Trends: A Data Snapshot of the European Defence Fund, 2021-2024

    Defence Innovation Trends: A Data Snapshot of the European Defence Fund, 2021-2024

    The European Defence Fund (EDF) has been in operation since 2021 and has become an integral part of European efforts to enhance defence investments. Since 2021, the European Commission has invested €4 billion into 225 collaborative defence research and development (R&D) projects. A major challenge will be keeping the momentum by securing more funding for… Read more