At a key moment for the European defense industry, marked by increasing strategic challenges and the need to strengthen technological and industrial autonomy, the 7th Defense Forum, organized by El Economista, was held in Madrid on October 17. The meeting, sponsored by GMV, brought together institutional representatives, members of the Armed Forces, and industry leaders to analyze the role of Spanish industry in the new European scenario.

Within the framework of this forum, GMV's CEO, Jesús Serrano, participated in the round table entitled “Spanish industry in the new European scenario,” which focused on the role of technology, public-private cooperation, and talent development as key elements in consolidating a more autonomous and effective European defense.

During his intervention, Serrano stressed that “the current context represents a great opportunity for Spain's technological and industrial base and, at the same time, a great responsibility for companies, which are called upon to respond to the operational needs of our Armed Forces.”

He also stressed the importance of increasing national investment in defense: “In recent years, Spain has invested 1% of its GDP in defense, compared to 3.4% in the United States. Reaching 2% will be an important step, but it will take time. Even so, we are still far from achieving true strategic autonomy.”

The debate also addressed issues such as the high fragmentation of the sector at the European level and technological dependence on third countries. In this context, Serrano emphasized that the future of the industry depends on the ability to respond competitively to the needs of the Ministry of Defense, committing to a shared strategic vision.