The Transatlantic Defence R&d Gap: Causes, Consequences and Controversies

This paper describes the huge gap in defence R&D expenditure between the United States and Western Europe, considers the causes and consequences of this transatlantic defence R&D gap and analyses some of the controversies that surround it. The paper notes that concerns about the R&D gap are as old as NATO itself and should be placed in the context of wider debates about transatlantic burden‐sharing. Current efforts to promote European cooperation on defence R&D may help Europe to spend more wisely in the future but will do little to reduce a transatlantic gap that has at its heart profound differences in strategic outlook between the United States and Europe.