At the risk of understating the case, Europe has been shaken by recent geopolitical events. ‘Great power politics’ is back, and Europe faces the very real risk of becoming a piece on the global chessboard rather than a player. Unsurprisingly, European leaders have scrambled to beef up their defenses. France's President Emmanuel Macron has warned that the continent is at a “turning point of history,” calling for unity and increased defense spending, and suggesting France would extend its nuclear umbrella to other European countries.

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Jean-Francois Morizur is co-founder and CEO at Cailabs, a French startup developing optical communications systems for spacecraft and other industries.

François Alter is a former Ministerial Advisor at CNES and President of the public purchasing commission at France Deeptech.