Competition for military pre-eminence in Asia between the US and China has caused European nations to hastily work towards meeting NATO’s goal of 2% GDP on defence outlay. Poland is aiming to even exceed this target, with plans to double the size (4% GDP) of their armed forces. Japan has declared a two-thirds rise in defence expenditure by 2027, potentially making it third in the world in defence spending. Australia, on its part, is collaborating with the US and Britain to create expensive nuclear-powered submarines.

For the western countries, funding arms purchases will be a challenge. They have to contend with the debt’s interest and face fiscal stresses that were not present in the 1980s, such as looking after an increasing population of senior citizens and reducing global warming.

In the same way as during the Cold War, there is the potential for money to be wasted on overly expensive equipment due to bureaucracy and favouritism. What is the best way to maximize the value of defence spending in the 2020s?

The conflict in Ukraine serves as an example. Western governments should prioritize restocking their depleted arms caches and expanding production of shells and missiles. A massive quantity of ammunition is expended in war situations. Ukraine has fired nearly as many 155-mm artillery shells in a month as the US can produce in a year. In a hypothetical war with China over Taiwan, the US could exhaust its stock of essential anti-ship missiles in a matter of just days. To increase output, industry needs to be provided with long-term contracts and any production obstacles need to be identified and eliminated.

Governments should then modify their acquisition procedures in order to break up the comfortable arrangement of the defence sector. Weapons from the West have been demonstrated to be useful in Ukraine and that conflict has the potential of becoming a laboratory for new innovations. In spite of this, purchases remain slow and expensive. Newcomers, particularly innovative tech firms, have the potential to break up the hold of the major contractors.

Spacex has dramatically decreased the cost of sending items into space. Their Starlink satellite system has been a great help to the Ukrainian forces. Silicon Valley companies are now aiding in the combination and examination of data in order to devise a ‘kill web’ network of scattered ‘sensors’ and ‘shooters’ which is more potent than any single weapon. Governments should be open to the influx of venture capital into experimental defence startups and understand that some failures are just part of the process.

To conclude, the West should strive to create a unified defence market that increases economic efficiency and competition. NATO may be of help in forming common standards. Ukraine is a prime example of the discrepancies between Western arms. For instance, British tanks are equipped with rifled guns which prohibit the use of ammunition made for smooth-bored German and American tanks. Furthermore, American tanks are powered by gasoline, while European tanks work on diesel. Taking into consideration the increased reliance on data for weapons, open-architecture software that allows equipment to be ‘plug-and-play’ is essential.

In order to create a unified market, it is necessary to stand up against protectionism. For instance, the European Union (EU) encountered issues due to France’s attempts at keeping foreign companies from taking part in the programme for delivery of one million artillery shells to Ukraine. Even the US could gain from more collaboration, as it currently relies on a single supplier for many of its missiles, which could lead to a more secure supply chain if they sourced from trusted allies.

In a tumultuous world, open democracies need to identify how to reinforce their security while managing other monetary obligations. The most effective way to achieve this is to be open to innovation and pursue cost-effectiveness and large-scale production.

India is prepared for geopolitical upheaval by bolstering its military, establishing economic links with other countries and seeking to create a more stable regional order. The country has increased its defence spending in recent years and is now one of the world’s top spenders on defence. It is also working to develop its own indigenous weapons and defence systems.

India is also expanding its economic ties with other countries, including the US, Japan and Australia. These countries have formed a new security alliance called the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad), which is aimed at countering China’s growing influence in the region.

Finally, India is working to build a more stable regional order. It is a member of several regional organizations, including the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). These organizations are working to promote cooperation and reduce tensions in the region.

Overall, India is prepared for the difficulties of a more volatile geopolitical environment by taking these steps. (IPA Service)