The past decade has been characterized by a transition from a multipolar, relatively stable international system to one marked by erupting regional conflicts, unprecedented technological competition, and a modern arms race.
This arms race operates on two levels- simple, inexpensive, mass-produced weapons and advanced offensive and intelligence-gathering systems (hypersonic armaments and unmanned systems).
The Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific Ocean, and the escalating Iranian threats in the Middle East have shaped a new geostrategic environment.
In a world where wars are conducted simultaneously on land, at sea, in the air, in cyberspace, and in outer space, security partnerships have transformed from diplomatic frameworks into genuine survival mechanisms.
Global escalation and the birth of a new security order
This has given birth to integrative systems of intelligence, industry, economics, and security: The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in Europe, the Australia-UK-US Security Partnership (AUKUS) in the Pacific Ocean, and the Abraham Accords in the Middle East.
The security partnerships of the current decade stem from historical alliances and a combination of five central drivers:
- Shared threat domains, cross-border threats such as UAVs, ballistic missiles; cyber attacks, and hybrid operations require shared capabilities in detection, warning, and integrated defense. There is no longer a protected "rear front,” every airspace is potentially a battlefield.
- Joint production enables countries to reduce costs and strengthen domestic industries, improving resilience against economic disruptions. Instead of each nation developing separate systems, projects such as Future Combat Air System (FCAS) in Europe pool research and development (R&D) resources.
- Preservation of technological access and deep technological infrastructure, including the domains of artificial intelligence (AI), space, quantum communications, and electronic warfare (EW) require cross-border R&D collaborations. No single nation can maintain an advantage across all fronts.
- Energy and geopolitical independence: The energy disruption resulting from the war in Ukraine highlighted nations' dependence on external supply. New alliances today include energy components such as gas pipelines, rare minerals, and secured supply chains.
- Shared resilience and security supply chains during wars, global pandemics, and sanctions have exposed nations' dependence on external supply, from advanced chips to basic ammunition. This has spawned initiatives for shared resilience, as countries jointly build stockpiles, local production, and decentralized logistics chains for emergencies.
A natural opportunity for Israel
Europe is investing over €1.5 billion in establishing joint ammunition production lines through the European Defense Fund (EDF), and agreements between the United States, India, Japan, and Australia are expanding cooperation in supplying critical minerals for advanced weapons systems and chips.
For Israel, this model represents a natural opportunity. Thanks to independent manufacturing capabilities, advanced logistics systems, and a flexible defense industry, Israel serves as a regional integration hub for testing, adapting, and maintaining systems for partner nations. Joint production partnerships with India (Barak-8) and Germany (Arrow-3) ensure supply continuity even during sanctions or geopolitical crises.
In this sense, industrial resilience has become the "new weapon" of democratic nations.
Europe vs Russia
The war in Ukraine has turned Europe into an unprecedented security testing ground. The European Union (EU) and NATO are working jointly to strengthen multi-layered air defense systems, restore industrial production capacity, and reduce dependence on Russian energy.
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), total European defense spending has risen from $330 billion in 2014 to $470 billion in 2025, and is projected to cross the $550 billion threshold by 2030.
Initiatives, such as Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) and EDF, are attempting to create a unified defense industry but face technological and political gaps.
Eastern European nations (Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia) invest over 3% of GDP in defense and view Russia as an immediate existential threat.
In contrast, Southern European countries (Italy, Spain, Portugal) face budgetary constraints and prefer investment in social infrastructure and welfare.
Not all nations meet NATO's 2% GDP target, and threat perceptions vary dramatically.
Additionally, decentralized industry and lack of interoperability among European weapons systems hinder the ability to operate jointly. Consequently, the EU finds itself between aspirations for strategic autonomy and practical dependence on NATO and the US.
Israel's role in the European arena
Within the European arena, Israel can integrate as a key player. Countries unable to develop technologies independently turn to proven Israeli solutions, such as the Arrow-3 (long-range ballistic missile defense system) deal with Germany worth US $3.5 billion, as well as air defense deals with Finland and others.
Israel offers Europe solutions based on combat experience and rapid innovation, but it faces concerns about political barriers and "Buy European" policies that could restrict access to the European market in the future.
AUKUS – Shaping the 21st century
The AUKUS partnership was born to stem Chinese expansion in the Indo-Pacific Ocean. It is one of the most significant technological alliances since the Cold War. The partnership is based on two technological pillars: 1. transfer of nuclear-powered submarine technology to Australia, and 2. development of future technologies in quantum, hypersonics, cyber, maritime artificial intelligence, and underwater autonomy.
The project cost is estimated at US $268-368 billion over 30 years. Australia has already transferred a $500 million initial payment, and the United Kingdom has invested $8 billion in expanding submarine production sites.
The significance: Australia is transforming from a defensive nation into a global naval power with strategic operational range vis-à-vis China.
The alliance is perceived in Beijing as a direct threat, triggering military responses in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea.
China has accelerated construction of its submarine fleet and is strengthening its military presence in the Spratly Islands.
Simultaneously, New Zealand, a Five Eyes member, refused to join AUKUS due to opposition to nuclear policy, creating internal tension among Western allies in the region.
Implications for Israel
For Israel, AUKUS is a technological roadmap. Areas such as maritime AI, electronic warfare, and offensive cyber open opportunities for indirect cooperation, for example, in projects analyzing maritime radar data and autonomous sensors.
Israel can serve as an "edge laboratory" for rapid experimentation and integration between allied militaries and defense companies, while leveraging its experience in warfare in complex environments.
South Asia – The Asian triangle of balance
South Asia constitutes a region of ongoing geopolitical competition, expressed in three interconnected central axes:
India and China maintain competition for regional hegemony and struggle for control of the Himalayan border.
India seeks security independence through alliances with Israel, France, and the US; China aims to preserve its influence within the Belt and Road Initiative framework, granting it control over ports and critical infrastructure across Asia.
Meanwhile, India and Pakistan maintain a nuclear deterrence balance that prevents large-scale direct confrontation, but hostility continues through focused confrontations in Kashmir and support for terrorist organizations.
India invests in intelligence capabilities and precision technologies; Pakistan leans on Chinese military support and financial assistance from Gulf States in the form of grants and investments in energy and security.
The close cooperation within the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) gives China maritime access to the Arabian Sea, bypasses the vulnerable Malacca Strait, and balances India. This project includes ports, highways, and energy infrastructure, making Pakistan a central strategic ally of Beijing.
The Russia-North Korea-Iran axis: A connection of mutual distress
The alliance between Pyongyang and Moscow has become an engine for supplying ammunition and military technology in exchange for oil, food, and spare parts.
Russia, under heavy sanctions, needs mass ammunition for the war in Ukraine; North Korea needs food, energy, and diplomatic recognition.
This alliance concerns Japan and South Korea, who view it as a growing threat. There are fears that North Korea will receive in return nuclear technology or advanced ballistic missiles, which would upset the deterrence balance on the Korean Peninsula. Japan has responded by accelerating the development of independent offensive capabilities and increasing cooperation with the US and South Korea.
Another concerning implication is the possibility of technological knowledge transfer between North Korea and Iran, two countries that have cooperated in the field of ballistic missiles for years.
Reports indicate that Iran received missile engine blueprints and components from North Korea, and in return provided financing. Strengthening this axis could enable Iran to make a quantum leap in nuclear and ballistic capabilities.
Conclusion
The emerging global security order is defined less by traditional diplomacy and more by the ability of nations to forge resilient, technology-driven partnerships that can withstand crises across multiple domains. From Europe’s struggle to balance strategic autonomy with NATO reliance, to AUKUS reshaping Indo-Pacific power dynamics, to the volatile axes of cooperation in South Asia and beyond, alliances are existential.
For Israel, this shifting landscape presents both challenges and opportunities. Its proven defense innovations, flexible industrial base, and combat-tested systems position it as a valuable partner for nations seeking rapid integration of advanced capabilities. Yet, political barriers and protectionist policies may complicate its path. Ultimately, Israel’s role will be determined by its ability to embed itself within these evolving frameworks, not only as a supplier of technology but as a strategic bridge between regions.
In an era where security, economics, and technology are inseparable, the nations that thrive will be those that transform partnerships into engines of resilience. Israel, standing at the crossroads of East and West, has the potential to shape not just its own security future, but the architecture of global stability in the decades ahead.
Col. (Ret.)Ryan Gity is the CEO of G2, a deep-tech AI startup