12 · MT 2/2023 Hot Spots as cables and pipelines. To address and coordinate the main issues, NATO is establishing a new Coordination Centre at NATO Headquarters to map vulnerabilities, engage with industry and work through the NATO-EU Task Force on Resilience and Critical Infrastructure. Another relevant theme is the new domains, such as Cyber, Hibryds and Space, which have been part of NATO’s ‘operational menu’ for some time now. Regarding space, which has proven to be particularly important in Ukraine, the Alliance is creating a new virtual network of national and commercial satellites. This will enable allies to increase space data sharing with the NATO command structure, facilitating better navigation, communication and early warning of missile launches. The programme’s name will be “Alliance Persistent Surveillance from Space” (APSS), which will exploit the already existing capabilities of allied countries, linking systems together in a virtual constellation called ‘Aquila’. Finally, to maintain the technological edge, the Alliance is about to launch the DIANA Innovation HUB, which should bring innovators, investors and researchers together to create new emerging and disruptive technologies. Conclusions Once again, NATO is truly dealing with a clash of civilisations or a second Cold War, whose contours are still highly undefined. In addition, there is the Alliance’s clear will to extend the geographical coverage to areas that have never been considered in the past, namely East Asia. The enemy of the future would be China, and the bone of contention Taiwan. So far, the internal front has been united to face all these challenges, as the reactions to Russian actions show. However, it must be seen if this harmony of intentions and actions will resist a long Ukrainian war, further economic restrictions and crises, and the next US presidential elections. In addition, it must be considered, as explained during the MSC, that public opinion about Russia has not worsened in the developing world (6 billion people) against the backdrop of the aggression, but, on the contrary, more people than before have a positive image of the Kremlin. All these open questions will determine the future of NATO in the coming years. undisputed. Indeed the EU defence is increasingly perceiving itself as the European pillar of NATO. A pillar, however, that must increasingly be self-sufficient, still remaining interoperable with NATO. European leaders, once very recalcitrant to this approach due to political consensus and old taboos, are increasingly changing their minds. They are responding to NATO’s call to arms, and providing ammunition, artillery, logistics, TLCs, anti-tank missiles, as well as armoured vehicles to Ukrainians. Talks are ongoing on combat aircraft from the fleets of Migs and F-16s owned by European NATO members. And defence budgets increase. While NATO declares the 2% as a floor instead of a ceiling, France made an incredible leap from €295 billion in 2019-2025 to €413 billion for the following period. Poland aims to reach 4% of its budget while Germany, expected to raise the budget to 2% of GDP, use an extraordinary €100 million allocation and take the EU military leadership, is however very slow in implementing its declared intentions. Then there are Sweden and Finland, which are not yet officially part of NATO, but members of the Union that aspire to join the Alliance, according to a strategy aimed at strengthening NATO northern flank. The diatribes with Turkey, which is trying to stand in the way of Sweden’s access, due to some Swedish pro-PKK attitudes, are well known. But the Secretary-General says he is confident both countries will join together, also because two separate moves might jeopardise their security . The ultimate objective of the Alliance, apart from a mere question of cost, is that of a European bloc increasingly capable of defending itself against possible other invasions but also threats from the Southern flank, and able to confront issues not directly concerning the Alliance, shall the US be busy with different longitudes in the future. Changes, technology Amidst so many political-military issues, several technological and organisational innovations exist. The Alliance is placing increasing emphasis on strengthening posture and critical infrastructure. There has recently been much talk about protecting submarine infrastructure, such Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov meets NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
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