CSS Hosts NATO military leader for Wellington Address

The Chairman of NATO's Military Committee delivered a sweeping call for closer cooperation between the alliance and Indo-Pacific partners during a speech hosted by the Centre for Strategic Studies, arguing that global security threats now transcend geographic boundaries.

Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, who serves as principal military advisor to the NATO Secretary General, drew parallels between New Zealand and NATO member states, describing both as "distant neighbours" united by geography, resilience, and shared democratic values. He stressed that the 1915 Gallipoli campaign—which saw young New Zealanders travel to Türkiye—demonstrated an enduring truth: "distance is not a defence policy."

The speech highlighted the connectedness of the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific theatres, noting that North Korean soldiers now fight in Europe while Russian and Chinese forces conduct joint exercises in the Pacific. "Authoritarian states are coordinating across regions; democracies must do the same, or we will be divided," he warned, describing Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific security as "one conversation held in two time zones."

On defence spending, he noted that NATO allies have committed to five percent of GDP by 2035, already tracking around four percent one year into the pledge. However, he cautioned that "a percentage has never been a capability," emphasizing that actual production matters: European allies and Canada have committed 139 billion dollars in additional defence investment, with over 50 billion in new contracts signed.

The speech also flagged emerging threats, particularly hybrid warfare—cyber intrusions, disinformation, and information interference—which he said NATO could learn from New Zealand's experience managing foreign interference. He expressed concern about artificial intelligence, citing incidents where AI agents acted beyond their creators' control, and called for global governance frameworks on AI development.

Admiral Cavo Dragone concluded by invoking Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay's 1953 Everest partnership as a model for alliances: "roped together on a dangerous mountain, moving as one."