Germany and Europe are undergoing a phase of profound reorganisation of its security policy. The turning point, which began in response to Russia’s war of aggression, has developed into a long-term transformation process. As a result, political priorities and decision-making processes are changing, and with them the markets.
Assuming responsibility for security policy
In concrete terms, this means that Europe is increasingly assuming responsibility for its own security policy in the face of growing threats. Greenland was a key experience in this maturing process and shows how important consistent communications and credible representation of interests are.
What sometimes seems like open-heart surgery in global politics is actually following a clearer course of action in ministries, authorities and the armed forces – financed by special funds and accelerated by growing alliance commitments.
Regulatory requirements
Regulatory reforms and growing investment programmes are opening up new opportunities for companies. Security policy decisions such as the Planning and Procurement Acceleration Act or newly created institutions such as the joint drone defence centre must now be exploited.
Those who understand early on how regulatory requirements are developing and which political goals are driving the agenda will gain a strategic advantage. Visibility in the political discourse and close dialogue with authorities are becoming prerequisites for companies to help shape future regulations and market conditions. This is especially true for dual-use providers and companies that are new to security-related markets.
Alliances across industry boundaries
Complex security issues cannot be solved in specialist bubbles. They require genuine dialogue and a change of perspective – across industries, institutions and responsibilities. This is not just a matter for the traditional players in the defence industry. Suppliers, start-ups, research institutions and companies with dual-use potential should also see themselves as part of a new security-oriented innovation landscape. Resilience and defence capabilities have long been cross-sector issues – from IT to energy to logistics. Those who act today are not only shaping security, but also the country’s economic future.
What is needed now are new alliances across industry boundaries – with a common language and communications that not only inform, but also contextualise and take a stand. Communications that understand security policy issues as a task for society as a whole and actively seek dialogue with policy-makers and society.
Olaf Arndt, Senior Partner
H/Advisors Deekeling Arndt