Europe Must Step Up: NATO Veteran Warns of Urgent Need for Transatlantic Defence Overhaul
In Conversation with Mr. Mircea Dan Geoanǎ at the Future of Defence Tech Manufacturing & Innovation
The Future of Defence Tech Manufacturing & Innovation, was presented by the US Defense Innovation Unit and Munich Security Conference Tech & Innovation Thursday, sponsored by Boston Consulting Group, and powered by Resilience Media.
In this precient conversation, Mr. Mircea Dan Geoană, President of Aspen Institute Romania and former deputy secretary general of NATO between 2019 and 2024, discusses the shifting geopolitical landscape, the evolving transatlantic security alliance, and the role of private sector innovation in defence. The discussion begins with an analysis of recent statements from Washington regarding Ukraine and what they signal for Europe's security posture.
He was interviewed by Farah Stockman, an Editorial Board Member for The New York Times.
With firsthand experience in NATO’s strategic planning and innovation efforts, the speaker provides insights into the unavoidable restructuring of the U.S.-Europe defence relationship. He emphasises that, given current global challenges, America cannot maintain a three-front military strategy alone. This reality demands a reassessment of European defense capabilities, investment strategies, and collaboration between governments and private industry.
The discussion concludes with a stark warning: if the West does not modernise its defence posture and strengthen transatlantic cooperation, it risks falling behind in an era of emerging global threats. The audience is left with a challenge—how can policymakers, investors, and industry leaders build a defence ecosystem that is faster, smarter, and better prepared for the conflicts of the future?
-John Biggs, Resilience Media