On January 12, 2012, the Atlantic Council welcomed Norwegian Minister of Defence, H.E. Espen Barth Eide for a strategy session to discuss the implications of the financial crisis in Europe on transatlantic security.
During the roundtable meeting, moderated by Atlantic Council Executive Vice President Damon Wilson, Washington’s top defense and security experts discussed the financial crisis in Europe, and the challenges and opportunities that have arisen for the United States during this time of Western fiscal austerity.
Throughout the session, the smart defense concept was discussed as a necessary component for all allied countries to consider while making tough decisions on individual defense budgets. As NATO nations prepare for the Chicago Summit in May, they must clearly articulate the defense needs on both sides of the Atlantic. While transformation is not an easy task, it is tantamount to the security and defense of the Alliance in the 21st century.