REMIT partner Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) has published an open-access academic article on the military applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in Europe in the Journal of Contemporary European Studies (JCES). Authored by Professor Michal Onderco and Mahmoud Javadi, a former REMIT researcher, the paper draws on findings from an expert survey they designed and conducted to examine European collaboration in military AI.
Commenting on the publication, the authors said: “This research is the latest outcome of an expert survey we conducted in late 2023, aimed at mapping the landscape of military AI collaborations across Europe through social network analysis. We previously collaborated with Katja Creutz and Ville Sinkkonen from the Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA), a REMIT partner institution, to release and contextualize part of the survey findings in a working paper published by FIIA in February 2024. These findings have since been presented and discussed at several FIIA-hosted events in Helsinki. I’m pleased to see our JCES article now published. Alongside the survey data, it incorporates insights from over a dozen elite interviews with senior diplomatic and academic figures engaged in both national and international policymaking on military AI. We look forward to releasing more of our work soon and hope it will continue to contribute meaningfully to the evolving discourse on military AI.”
Abstract
This study examines the positioning of nations with established AI capabilities within European military AI collaboration networks, exploring their influence and strategic centrality. Applying Social Network Analysis (SNA) to data from a 2023 expert survey (N = 479), supplemented by qualitative insights from targeted interviews, the research uncovers the structural dynamics shaping military AI cooperation.
The findings indicate that countries with dedicated national AI strategies in defence leverage institutional readiness to become key nodes in the network, driving both innovation and governance. However, the overall network remains fragmented, with low density and limited cohesion, suggesting unrealized potential for deeper cooperation.
The study highlights the pivotal roles of NATO and the European Defence Agency in strengthening integration and coordination. By employing SNA, this research offers new perspectives on European strategic affairs, shedding light on the evolving landscape of military AI governance and technological advancement.
Full Citation
Javadi, M. and Onderco, M. (2025) ‘State positioning in European military AI networks: a social network analysis of European partnerships in military AI’, Journal of Contemporary European Studies, pp. 1- 20.
https://doi.org/10.1080/14782804.2025.2514846.