Defense News quotes VP and Scowcroft Center Director Barry Pavel on what issues are likely to top the agenda at this year’s NATO Summit:
But with much of the focus on combating Islamic State fighters in Iraq, Syria and the threat they pose to Turkey, and Russian threats to Ukraine, the southern security issue might not get addressed.
“I don’t think that’s going to get much traction,” Barry Pavel, vice president and director of the Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security at the Atlantic Council, said of the alliance’s southern flank issues. “I don’t think the Italians have the sway that the Poles and the Brits and others do. I think politically it’s not going to go as far.”
Stavridis said the alliance could possibly issue a statement on the need to coordinate and invest more in cybersecurity initiatives.
But Pavel noted there has been a divide between the NATO civilian and military leadership on the level of the cyber threat.
“My sense was the military staff at NATO thought we had a lot of urgent work to do, but the civilians were relatively proud of the work that’s already gone on,” he said.