Small EU Nations Ramp Up Drone Production While America Must Reclaim Defense Leadership

In the shadow of Russia's ongoing assault on Ukraine, an intriguing and troubling trend has emerged across the European Union: even its smallest members are rapidly building advanced drone manufacturing capabilities. Consider Cyprus, a Mediterranean island nation with just over a million people, now producing hundreds of reconnaissance and combat drones that help Ukrainian forces zero in on enemy positions amid harsh battlefield conditions. Swarmly, a Cypriot manufacturer, claims over 200 of its H-10 Poseidon drones have logged more than 100,000 flight hours over Ukraine in just three years. But these aren’t just toys; their factories also craft armed marine...