Liaquat Ali
Islamabad: Chairman of Leonardo and former Italian ambassador Stefano Pontecorvo said thus week that Europe possesses the technological expertise and industrial capabilities needed to build a stronger and more independent defence system, arguing that greater political commitment and increased investment are now essential to meeting evolving global security challenges.
Speaking during an interview on the Zenit programme, Ambassador Pontecorvo said Europe, beginning with Italy, has technologies and industrial capabilities that are comparable to those of the United States, but continues to lag behind in defence spending.
He said Europe still has an opportunity to strengthen its strategic autonomy, provided governments are willing to make the necessary investments to enhance defence capabilities and industrial capacity.
According to Ambassador Pontecorvo, the principal obstacle is not a lack of technology or expertise but insufficient political will to allocate greater financial resources to defence.
He argued that many in Europe have yet to fully appreciate the scale of geopolitical transformation taking place, describing the current international environment as “not simply an era of change, but a change of era.”
The Leonardo chairman said Europe’s future security would depend on leaders recognising the need to adapt to the evolving strategic landscape and invest accordingly.
Commenting on tensions involving the United States and Iran, Ambassador Pontecorvo said both countries have compelling reasons to avoid a prolonged conflict and are likely to seek ways to limit further escalation.
He suggested that domestic political considerations, including upcoming US midterm elections, could influence Washington’s decision-making, while Iran also faces constraints in sustaining extended hostilities.
Ambassador Pontecorvo cautioned against viewing the situation as settled, saying the regional security environment remains highly fluid and subject to changing political and diplomatic dynamics.
Discussing the broader Middle East, he said Türkiye could assume a more prominent strategic role in regional security, particularly in Syria and Iraq, arguing that Ankara possesses both the operational capabilities and the willingness to undertake responsibilities that the United States may increasingly prefer to delegate.
