In 2025, the European military-industrial complex became a hot investment as the EU promised to spend hundreds of billions on its armed forces.
For some in the U.S. Congress, the potential upside was evident already in early 2024 on the growing tensions with Russia over the invasion of Ukraine.
Specifically, Representative Susie Lee made an investment potentially as large as $15,000 already on May 10, 2024, in the German-South African weapons giant Rheinmetall AG (ETR: RHM), as picked up by Finbold’s Congressional trading radar.
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At the time, RHM shares were changing hands at €535.80 (~$578.95) while, by press time on April 2, 2025, they had rallied 143.93% to €1,307 (~$1,412.25), meaning Congresswoman Lee made up to $21,589 as her stake may now be as large as $36,589.
With Europe’s growing anxiety over Russia’s war in Ukraine and the American apparently imminent exit from the security infrastructure, the continent might soon become a prime location for investors seeking to benefit from the war industry.
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Is Europe’s war industry about to become an investment hotbed?
Along with famous names such as Rheinmetall and Airbus (EPA: AIR) – the manufacturer of military aircraft such as the Eurofighter Typhoon – more obscure companies could soon become prime stock market buys.
The leftovers of the old Yugoslav defense industry might soon become a particularly enticing market. Bosnia’s Igman saw a sharp rise in exports in 2024, with the U.S. being a top buyer.
Similarly, rumors about the privatization of Serbia’s weapons industry have also been floating around, which, if executed, could substantially shift the balance as the country retained significant arms production capacity.
Interestingly, despite the nominal neutrality, equipment produced in the Balkan nation may have already been used in contemporary battlefields. Certain regional investigative journalists claim the government has been making clandestine exports to Ukraine via Croatia’s wartime president’s ‘merchant of death.’
Featured image via Shutterstock
