MSC Hosts Panel Discussions at NATO Public Forum Alongside Summit in Vilnius

Foreign and security policy increasingly and tangibly impacts on citizens’ life. The ambition of the NATO Public Forum therefore is to involve members of the publics more in these discussions – an ambition that the MSC shares and promotes with its “Zeitenwende on tour” project in Germany. The Public Forum was streamed live; recordings of all sessions can be re-watched here.

Following the opening remarks by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda, the MSC CEO and Vice-Chairman Benedikt Franke moderated a conversation with NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană. Covering the main topics discussed among NATO leaders at the summit, including Sweden’s accession, security guarantees for Ukraine, defense spending commitments, and NATO’s new defense and deterrence posture, Geoană emphasized the Allies’ commitment to support Ukraine for “as long as it takes.” Later on, the MSC hosted a conversation with General Christopher G. Cavoli, NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe. Interviewed by Katarzyna Pisarska, Chair of the Warsaw Security Forum, Cavoli discussed NATO’s new regional plans, calling them “blueprints for the modernization of NATO’s collective defense system.” He also expressed his admiration for “Ukraine’s societal cohesion,” stressing that there was “a fountain of lessons, both positive and negative,” for NATO to learn from the war. Toward the end of the first day, MSC Chairman Christoph Heusgen interviewed Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares, who suggested that the summit had been “very successful” that far, expressing his optimism that the Allies were making substantial progress in implementing the commitments made at 2022 NATO Summit in Madrid.

The second day kicked off with the second iteration of NATO’s High Level Dialogue on Climate hosted by the MSC with Icelandic Foreign Minister Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörd Gylfadóttir, NATO Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges David van Weel, Secretary General of the International Military Council on Climate and Security Sherri Goodman, and Member of the Executive Council of the World Meteorological Organization General Luca Baione. Moderated by Deutsche Welle anchor Christine Mhundwa, the speakers discussed the security threats caused or exacerbated by climate change and the necessary responses. Goodman identified climate action to increase “societal resilience” in NATO populations and beyond as a priority, while van Weel highlighted that “militaries are already feeling the impact,” pointing to a recent NATO study that demonstrates the repercussions of extreme weather for NATO forces.

The MSC also hosted a “Tech Talk: Harnessing Emerging Technologies for Strategic Advantage.” The panel members were ECFR Senior Fellow Ulrike Franke, Chair of the Board of Directors of Defence Investment Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) Barbara K. McQuiston, and Managing Partner of the NATO Innovation Fund Andrea Traversone. Teri Schultz moderated the discussion on the profound influence emerging and disruptive technologies are having on warfare, not least in Ukraine. Franke drew attention to the fact that “private companies and private individuals are playing an important role” in this war and called upon Allies to ponder on the implications. In turn, McQuiston and Traversone explained how NATO was responding to recent developments in technology by recently launching DIANA and the NATO Innovation Fund to spur innovation among the Allies.

As the highlight of the day, MSC Chairman Christoph Heusgen moderated a conversation with Jake Sullivan, the US National Security Advisor. Speaking shortly after the publication of the Summit Communiqué, Sullivan made a strong case for the importance of maintaining NATO’s unity in face of Russian aggression and not drawing the Alliance into a war with Russia. “Unity means,” he continued, “that we can come together from somewhat different tactical perspectives to join in a common strategic vision: Ukraine’s future is in NATO.” Christoph Heusgen concluded the conversation by highlighting the enduring and central “US commitment to European security” manifest in the US support for Ukraine and beyond.