From left: Mariano Bianchi, Luiza Bialasiewicz, Simone Tholens, Trine Flockhart, and Davide Bergami
On October 15, 2025, John Cabot University hosted its fourth annual Transatlantic Policy Dialogues. This year the theme was “New Horizons in Transatlantic Security and Defense Cooperation.” The event opened with remarks by the keynote speaker Armando Varricchio, Italy’s former ambassador to both Germany and the United States. Varricchio began by emphasizing the historic importance of the transatlantic bond between Europe and the United States, as well as the common democratic values and aspirations that define this centuries-long relationship.
Turning to current challenges, Ambassador Varricchio argued that the war in Ukraine demonstrated the necessity of a stronger and more cohesive European security strategy. He identified terrorism, human trafficking, and state fragility on Europe’s periphery as persistent threats, stressing that the United States’ strategic reorientation toward the Indo-Pacific makes it vital for Europe to assume greater responsibility within NATO. Political cohesion remains the alliance’s most critical asset.
Ambassador Varricchio
Transatlantic Policy Dialogues: General Bianchi on Europe’s Defense Doctrine
Following the opening remarks, Professor Simone Tholens, who acted as the event moderator, introduced an interactive panel session by outlining its key themes: the pillars of global security, trust in transatlantic relations, and the frameworks available to address emerging challenges. The panel included General Mariano Bianchi from the Italian Ministry of Defense, Trine Flockhart from the European University Institute, Davide Bergami from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Luiza Bialasiewicz from Ca’Foscari University of Venice.
The first question concerning Italy’s plan to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP was addressed to General Bianchi (Italian Ministry of Defense). He framed the issue around assumed responsibilities, arguing that financial commitments enable industrial projects, which in turn sustain operational readiness. He observed that Europe’s defense doctrine has shifted from counterinsurgency and stability operations toward peer-to-peer deterrence, requiring heavier equipment and stronger defense capabilities. Bianchi also emphasized dual-use technologies — proven effective in Ukraine — as the cornerstone of future strategy.
Transatlantic Policy Dialogues: Europe Needs Cohesion for Collective Efficiency
The discussion then turned to political cohesion and credibility within the transatlantic framework. Bialasiewicz reflected on the crisis of credibility within NATO, recalling episodes such as the conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, and Crimea, which revealed recurrent fractures in transatlantic trust. She argued that Europe is transforming a defense alliance into a security provider, but faces internal divisions in threat perception and strategic priorities.
Bergami emphasized the political economy of defense, warning that Europe’s fragmented procurement systems undermine collective efficiency. He called for greater coordination in defense spending and resilient supply chains to reduce vulnerabilities to cyber and logistical disruptions. He highlighted the importance of innovation and AI integration for industrial competitiveness and productivity, state investment in domestic firms, and growing transatlantic private equity interest in European industries.
Transatlantic Policy Dialogues: Emerging Eurasian and Chinese Normative Clusters
Flockhart concluded the discussion by contextualizing these challenges within a changing world order, noting a transition from a U.S.-led liberal order to a multi-order world. She described the emergence of two new normative clusters: a Eurasian system under Russia, and China’s Asia-centered order through initiatives such as the Belt and Road Initiative. She also noted that non-state actors like ISIS have formed “orders” of their own, illustrating a fragmented and overlapping world that can no longer be understood through Cold War–era multilateral frameworks.
Flockhart concluded that transatlantic relations will persist but not rest on trust. They will be complementary yet increasingly independent, reflecting Europe’s urgent need to develop its own security architecture as the U.S. pivots toward the Indo-Pacific. The continent stands at a crossroads: tasked with preserving transatlantic partnership while building genuine strategic autonomy, investing in innovation and interoperability, and adapting to a world where order itself is no longer singular, but plural and uncertain.
