In an exclusive interview with Sky TG24 from Brussels, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, made surprising statements about the future of European defense in this era of changing global geopolitical balances. With Trump’s return to the White House and uncertainty in Ukraine, the admiral emphasized that “the waiting period is over.”
Elchi.az reports that Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, made surprising statements about the future of European defense in this era of changing global geopolitical balances in an exclusive interview with Sky TG24 from Brussels. With Trump’s return to the White House and uncertainty in Ukraine, the admiral emphasized that “the waiting period is over.” Cavo Dragone stated that the concept of a “European Army,” which has been discussed for years but never materialized, is no longer a dream: “We no longer live in a world where national armies alone are sufficient. Far from weakening NATO, European strategic autonomy will actually strengthen the European pillar of the alliance. A common command structure and an integrated defense industry are an indication of Europe’s seriousness in ensuring its own security.”
NATO and relations with the new US administration
In response to the Trump administration’s criticism of NATO as “allies who do not pay their debts,” the admiral adopted a pragmatic approach: “The message is clear: Europe must share the financial burden. The 2% defense spending target is no longer a ceiling, but a minimum. However, Article 5 (Collective Defense), which is the foundation of the alliance, must remain open for discussion. We are in constant dialogue with Washington; US involvement is essential for deterrence, but Europe must now wake up from its complacency.”
Technological warfare and artificial intelligence
The admiral stated that future conflicts will be won not only by the number of soldiers, but also by technological superiority: “Cyberspace and space are now as real battlefields as land, sea, and air. We cannot allow ourselves to lag behind in artificial intelligence integration and unmanned systems. As Europe, we must combine investments in defense technologies.”
Threat from Russia and the Eastern Bloc
In response to a question about Russia’s recent actions, the admiral said: “The threat does not only come from the east; we are under hybrid attack. Disinformation, energy blackmail, and sabotage attempts against underwater cable lines are part of modern warfare. As NATO, we have raised our readiness level to the highest level. Increasing our defense capabilities is not about wanting war, it is the only way to preserve peace.”
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