Europe’s rush to rearm is being held back by fragmented military spending, an Investigate Europe report says. The waste runs into billions.

Countries are buying weapons separately instead of together. That means higher prices and kit that cannot work as one force.

The report says Europe’s defence market is split along national lines. Each country protects its own arms makers instead of pooling orders.

Analysts say joint buying could cut costs sharply. Standard tanks, shells and drones bought at scale would stretch every euro further.

With Russia’s war on Ukraine grinding on, the pressure to spend wisely is rising. The report warns that without reform, Europe will pay more and get less defence for it.

The European Union has pledged to spend far more on defence since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. But national rivalries still shape buying decisions across the continent. Reformers want a single European defence market with pooled orders. They argue that joint procurement would cut costs and improve readiness. Without reform, the report warns, taxpayers pay more for less security.