Freight News, Logistics, Rail, Road, Sea


Putting logistics on a war footing

[ September 19, 2025   //   ]

European politicians have announced massive investment in transport infrastructure, making up for years of neglect to bolster NATO’s defence against any Russian aggression, says consult Ti in a new paper.

From Tooth to Tail: a new era for military logistics in Europe says that it could also help transform the economic prospects for some of Europe’s poorest regions.

It examines the challenges of upgrading the region’s transport and supply chain structures, increasing economic connectedness whilst at the same time supporting the needs of military logisticians. These include building the right road, rail, air and port infrastructure, developing visibility systems and cybersecurity and minimising bureaucracy and cross-border delays.

Building new ‘dual-use’ roads, railways and ports fit for both commercial and military use will also stimulate economic growth, especially in the central and eastern European countries bordering Russia and Ukraine. Deploying thousands of NATO troops and the general militarisation of the region will also be a significant driver of local economic development.

Author, Professor John Manners-Bell added that  hardware was only part of the challenge: trade processes must be reformed, engagement with private sector transport and logistics providers reframed and digitalisation and cyber security strategies developed.

He commented, “Dual-use investment will have ‘dual-benefits’ which will boost the region’s logistics industry whilst creating resilient military supply chains. However, both ambitions can only be delivered if the European Union, its individual member states and other European NATO members move with speed and agility to address existing systemic weaknesses which compromise their ability to deploy and sustain forces on the eastern flank. Only by achieving this will military leaders be able to focus resources on NATO’S  tooth’ rather than its ‘tail.”

Tags: