Military Technology: Risks and Opportunities for the Atlantic Alliance

New disruptive military technologies will play a crucial role in future warfare. Investing in this field requires a long-term political commitment on the one hand, and huge economic, human and industrial resources on the other. NATO has always put a great emphasis on the high-tech level of its armed forces. However, a technological gap has emerged between the two sides of the Atlantic. While the US has a clear political vision and the necessary capabilities for further developing a technologically advanced military, European NATO members lack a unitary strategy, as well as the necessary financial resources and industrial fabric to properly deal with the new technological challenges. Technological sovereignty is thus emerging as an even more critical component for the future of European security.

Report of the workshop “Military Technology: Risks and Opportunities for the Atlantic Alliance” held in Rome on 27-28 February 2020 and organized by the Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI) in collaboration with the NATO Defense College (NDC).