17. European Defense

As European leaders grow increasingly skeptical about the United States' commitment to transatlantic defense, calls for increased military spending and "sovereign rearmament" have gained traction. But turning these political ambitions into reality means confronting a host of practical challenges—from fragmented and often U.S.-dependent defense industries to limited logistical capacity and deep divisions over strategic priorities. On this episode—with our guest Sam—we discuss whether a sovereign European defense strategy is even plausible. Guest Resources: Follow Sam’s analysis on European defense and geopolitics at his Substack: turnbaugh.substack.com -- Original Image © European Union, 2025