Green Defence in Europe: Energy Security, Decarbonisation and Industrial Constraints
How EU and NATO funding, fuel transitions and carbon regulation are reshaping the European defence industrial base
The European armed forces are becoming “green” not only to align with climate objectives, but to reduce strategic dependence on imported fossil fuels, particularly from politically sensitive suppliers. EU and NATO strategy documents now frame energy resilience, decarbonisation and operational readiness as mutually reinforcing objectives rather than competing agendas. Through the European Defence Fund’s ENERENV calls, the Military Mobility Action Plan and related regulatory instruments, the Union is funding hybrid propulsion, sustainable aviation fuels and energy-independent military infrastructure. At the same time, new regulatory pressures such as the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism and the Critical Raw Materials Act introduce cost exposure and supply-chain realignments for defence manufacturers. The transition therefore operates along two axes: strengthening strategic autonomy in energy, while exposing the defence sector to new carbon pricing mechanisms and digital vulnerabilities linked to smart energy systems.