Mümin Ahmedoğlu

Mümin Ahmedoğlu

Mümin Ahmedoğlu is a master's student at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), specializing in Management and Technology. His research is at the intersection of defense innovation, arms control, and disarmament, with a strong commitment to advancing global security. Mümin is passionate about contributing to the field through cutting-edge research and fostering international collaboration, aiming to address the complex challenges in defense and security policy.

Military Innovation vs. Operations: How Arms Trade, Technological Capacity, and Economic Strength Shape PESCO Participation

Published in To be published, 2025

This article analyzes the complex dynamics of participation in The Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) projects by exploring the interplay of arms trade level, technolog- ical capacity, and economic factors among innovation and operational initiatives. It em- ploys logistic regression, network analysis, and clustering techniques to reveal the drivers of collaboration and the roles of participating nations. The results highlight that Arms Export is the most striking determinant for most project types, especially innovation projects, underscoring the crucial role of arms exports and granted patents in shaping participation. The negative and positive effects of granted patents point to contextual priorities, showing positive associations within innovation projects but revealing negative impacts on operational projects. This divergence illustrates the differing emphases on technological development versus preparedness and logistics. Economic indicators, such as GDP per capita and defense spending (% GDP), exhibit limited direct effects, sug- gesting that defense-specific capabilities override general economic variables. Network analysis indicates a hierarchical structure, with leading actors such as France, Germany, and Italy spearheading joint projects, while less powerful countries remain underrepre- sented. Clustering analysis further reveals detailed participation patterns, highlighting the monopolization of technological leadership by a few countries and the greater in- clusiveness of operational partnerships. This paper emphasizes the need to synchronize national capacities with project aims to enhance inclusivity and promote resilience within the European defense framework.

Recommended citation: Mumin Ahmedoglu, Ahmedoglu. (2024). "Military Innovation vs. Operations: How Arms Trade, Technological Capacity, and Economic Strength Shape PESCO Participation." - .
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