A European Parliament briefing analyzes Security and Defense Partnerships (SDPs), a new generation of non-binding bilateral agreements that shape cooperation with third countries. These partnerships combine political dialogue, operational cooperation, and an industrial dimension, with applications tailored to specific geographic regions. Furthermore, they increasingly incorporate aspects related to defense industrial policies, serving as a gateway to participation in European programs. The briefing emphasizes, however, that the impact of SDPs will depend on their effective implementation, consistency with the NATO framework, and the ability to avoid overly heterogeneous proliferation.

Attached is a summary of the briefing, prepared by the Single Market Lab.