What's at stake at Italy's European air defence conference?
The two-day summit focuses on enhancing European defence capabilities and countering potential threats in response to recent geopolitical developments and challenges.
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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.