In an interview with Politico, Ischinger, the former German ambassador to the US and the founder of the Munich Security Conference, said Europe is struggling to keep pace with advances in defense and security technology, leaving it vulnerable to future threats.
Ischinger emphasized that addressing the tech gap should be a top priority for the European Union, alongside geopolitical issues like the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. He also pointed to Europe’s fragmented capital markets as a significant obstacle to developing a more competitive technological landscape.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has recognized the issue, placing “tech sovereignty” and security at the forefront of her next mandate. However, Ischinger is skeptical about whether EU institutions are capable of bridging the gap, warning that without the proper investments and reforms, Europe risks falling further behind global tech leaders like the US and China.
The tech sector’s influence on military and security solutions has grown in recent years, with innovations like AI being developed for both civilian and defense purposes.
The Munich Security Conference has become a key platform for tech companies to showcase their contributions to military technology, drawing industry leaders like Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg and Microsoft’s Brad Smith.
With NATO’s former secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg set to take over the Munich Security Conference chairmanship in 2025, there is hope that Europe may take more aggressive steps to close the tech gap.
However, experts like Ischinger and others in Europe’s defense tech industry continue to stress the need for immediate action to ensure Europe’s future security.
