Mark Esper: Can the Defense Industrial Base Meet the Moment?

Thought Leader: Mark Esper

February 18, 2026

Mark Esper, former U.S. Secretary of Defense and now a Managing Partner at Red Cell Partners, joins us to examine the implications, risks and opportunities amid the expanding defense spending commitments across the world.

The war in Ukraine has reshuffled the deck. The conflict underscores a shift in battlefield logistics, driving an unprecedented pairing of technology with kinetic capabilities across land, sea, air and space.

This, combined with U.S. pushing Europe to increase its share of the collective defense burden, is driving defense commitments to unprecedented levels.

It is a global phenomenon, with geopolitical tensions driving spending across regions. But for the defense industry, the greatest challenge may lie in the transatlantic relationship.

Mark discusses with Jay Sapsford whether execution can match the ambitions, and whether this becomes a short surge or a durable project that reshapes industrial policy, budgets, and supply chains for the next decade.

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The Call is a series of live video conversations featuring expert guests from the U.S. Chamber’s Global Intelligence Desk. Live access to The Call is a benefit to the Chamber’s members; however, we are pleased to provide recordings of the calls for wider viewing thereafter.

The Honorable Mark Esper served as U.S. Secretary of Defense and Secretary of the Army, with decades of leadership across government, business, and the military. A West Point Distinguished Graduate and author of A Sacred Oath, he now works in venture capital and private equity. Esper brings audiences informed perspectives on global security, leadership, and strategic decision-making. To bring Mark Esper to your next speaking event, contact WWSG.

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