BOLSTERING NATO’S TECHNOLOGICAL EDGE & ECONOMIC RESILIENCE
As Allies face an increasing array of conventional and hybrid threats from strategic competitors as well as other state and non-state actors, bolstering whole-of-society resilience and maintaining the Alliance’s technological advance are essential. The Assembly’s work in 2023 highlighted both of these priorities.
In her report on the challenges for transatlantic energy security, Harriett Baldwin (United Kingdom) notes that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has highlighted “the ongoing relevance of energy geopolitics and the leverage that producer countries can exercise to further their ambitions.” She warns that, as European countries move to reduce imports of Russian energy, they become more vulnerable to supply disruptions occurring well beyond Europe. “It is ultimately not in the interest of Allied countries to trade energy reliance on Russia and OPEC for reliance on processed minerals, wind turbines and solar panels made in China,” Ms Baldwin writes, urging closer transatlantic energy cooperation.
Harriett Baldwin (United Kingdom), ESC General Rapporteur
In his report, Sven Clement (Luxembourg) argues that investment in novel materials and additive manufacturing offers one response to this challenge. Such investment “constitutes a necessary part of strengthening Allies’ resilience to future economic and security shocks by limiting dependence on supply chains controlled by outside actors that seek to undermine or disrupt Euro-Atlantic stability,” he writes. “[Novel materials] will likely be essential for addressing several large-scale societal and economic challenges, including with regard to green transition policies and global economic, geopolitical and security developments,” he adds.
Sven Clement (Luxembourg), STC Special Rapporteur
In his report on rebuilding transatlantic economic resilience, Faik Oztrak (Türkiye) similarly calls on Europe and North America to work together, as they reappraise the international trading order, industrial policy and best practice for fostering technological advances in the energy, digital, defence and other critical sectors – both in light of Russia’s war in Ukraine and the COVID-19 pandemic. He argues that the global economy is undergoing “a series of paradigm shifts.” Therefore, “The United States and the EU should deepen their dialogue on risk management, regulation, competitiveness, defence applications, the protection of democratic values and practices, privacy, and trade and the unique policy and ethical challenges posed by emerging technologies like artificial intelligence.”
Faik Oztrak (Türkiye), ESCTER Rapporteur
Faced with growing competition from autocratic powers, NATO Allies should also cooperate closely to maintain the Alliance’s technological edge and lead the development of frameworks and norms for the use of new technologies. In their remarks to the Assembly at the Copenhagen Annual Session, both NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana and Supreme Allied Commander Transformation General Philippe Lavigne stressed this message.
Mircea Geoana NATO Deputy Secretary General
General Philippe Lavigne Supreme Allied Commander Transformation
In his report on robotics and autonomous systems, Joe Weingarten (Germany) notes that “the impact of uncrewed systems in Russia’s war against Ukraine shows the importance of autonomous systems, especially drone warfare, on the battlefield.” He further argues that “As many nations are investing in this technology, robotic and autonomous systems will have a profound impact on future conflicts,” stressing that “maintaining a technological edge remains of crucial importance for NATO Allies.”
Joe Weingarten (Germany), STCTTS Rapporteur
Technological solutions are also key in helping Allies respond to the increasing threats to critical maritime infrastructure, argues Njall Trausti Fridbertsson (Iceland) in his report. “Critical maritime infrastructure is both likely to become increasingly important for essential services and activities and more exposed to malicious action as advancing technologies create new vulnerabilities or fall into the hands of adversaries,” the report warns. The accompanying resolution urges Allies “to redouble NATO and Allies’ national efforts aiming to protect critical maritime infrastructure by encouraging the establishment of national strategic doctrines.” It also calls “to improve Allied intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities for enabling vehicle tracking, threat detection, communication, and strategic planning.”
Njall Trausti Fridbertsson (Iceland), STC General Rapporteur
Just days after the adoption of the report and resolution, Finland – and later Sweden – reported damage to some of their undersea infrastructure. In his statement in response to these incidents, NATO PA President Michal Szczerba (Poland) called on Allies to lend their full support to relevant investigations.
Assembly activities mostly in Allied countries (Finland, Germany, Iceland, Canada, Norway, Poland, Romania, Türkiye, the United Kingdom, and the United States in March and June) supported coverage of these themes.