What's at stake at Italy's European air defence conference?

euronews (in English)

The two-day summit focuses on enhancing European defence capabilities and countering potential threats in response to recent geopolitical developments and challenges.

Transcript

00:00Around 200 guests, including European military leaders and defence ministers, meet in Rome

00:07on the occasion of the second edition of the European Air and Missile Defence Conference.

00:12The two-day summit, taking place on Monday and Tuesday, focuses on the need to strengthen

00:16defence capabilities across the European continent and deter potential threats, given the latest

00:22geopolitical developments and the challenges Europe is facing.

00:25Tuesday's panels will address a number of aspects, from military to industrial, including

00:30political consequences.

00:31After Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the question of how to build a stronger defence across

00:36Europe has become the top priority for European leaders, especially in light of the upcoming

00:42US elections, which could determine a shift in US defence support for Europe.

00:47The need for the EU to strengthen its defence system and boost arms production capacities

00:52are in fact some of the key goals of the next European Commission.

00:55We met one of the defence experts who will moderate one of Tuesday's panels here at the

01:00Italian Air Force Headquarters behind me.

01:04The panel will focus on the military aspect of European air and missile defence.

01:09We asked him what's at stake and the importance of the conference.

01:12Take a listen.

01:14The aim of the conference is to move forward on the integrated missile defence of the European

01:19sky, that is, of the territory of Europe, in relation to threats such as bombs, missiles

01:25or drones, mainly from the Russian side, something that has been done and is still being done

01:30in the NATO area, but that European countries can and must do more autonomously and integratedly

01:36because integrated is the European airspace and the European continent.

01:39The key point is to integrate a great variety of systems.

01:43Some are made in the US and others are made in Europe, in a single, integrated system

01:49in which, thanks to artificial intelligence and secure cyber connections, you can identify

01:55a possible threat and take it down in a timely manner with the best system before it hits

02:00the European territory.

02:01By hosting the conference, Italy aims to play an active role.

02:04Organising the conference in Rome and presenting a paper, that is, an official document from

02:10The hope is that the Rome meeting will encourage further discussions on the issue within EU

02:24institutions.

02:25Giorgia Orlandi for Euronews, in Rome.

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