The Future of NATO with Leon Panetta and Expert Panel
Summary
An expert panel of world leaders gathered at the International Spy Museum to discuss the importance of NATO today and in the future. Panelists included former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs, among others.
What You’ll Learn
Intelligence
- Threats facing Baltic countries, including Russia
- The importance of NATO support for Ukraine
- Maintaining stability during political turmoil
- NATO’s growth and where it still needs to evolve in the 21st century
Reflections
- The power of global partnerships
- The impact of honest leadership
And much, much more …
Episode Notes
This week’s SpyCast episode comes to you directly from our stage at the International Spy Museum. On the eve of this year’s NATO Summit, held in Washington, D.C., we held a live program featuring an expert panel of world leaders and congressional officers. They discussed the importance of NATO during today’s conflict in Ukraine and the future of the alliance moving forward. This year marks the 75th anniversary of NATO’s founding in 1949.
Hosted by Christina Ruffini, our very own Andrew Hammond, and new One Decision co-host and former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, the first panel included Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs, Estonian Minister of Defense Hanno Pevkur, former Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović. The second panel featured a fireside chat with Jim Himes, the ranking member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. For more programs like this, stay up to date with SPY here.
And…
This episode was produced in collaboration with the One Decision Podcast, part of the Situation Room Studios podcast family. Check out their collection of expertly produced podcasts that highlight the latest in foreign affairs, politics, and media trends from leading experts around the world.
Quotes of the Week
“In the old days, NATO was kind of a place where everybody did their talking points and then left. But for the first time in a very long time, NATO is more than just a forum. It is a security alliance that is very important to protecting world peace.” – Leon Panetta.
Resources
SURFACE SKIM
*SpyCasts*
- Zelensky, Ukraine & Intelligence with Simon Shuster (2024)
- CIA Director, Defense Secretary, Gentleman with Leon Panetta (2024)
- Ukraine & the Alliance with NATO’s Assistant Secretary General for Intelligence David Cattler (2023)
- NATO’s Assistant Secretary General for Intelligence & Security with David Cattler (2022)
*Beginner Resources*
- Why are the Baltic states strategically important for NATO? A. Sytas, Reuters (2023) [Short article]
- Ukraine conflict: Simple visual guide to the Russian invasion, BBC (2022) [Short article]
- The Formation of NATO and the Warsaw Pact | History, YouTube (2017) [3 min. video]
DEEPER DIVE
Books
- The Showman, S. Shuster (William Morrow, 2024)
- Enduring Alliance, T. A. Sayle (Cornell University Press, 2019)
- Defense of the West, S. Sloan (Manchester University Press, 2016)
- Worthy Fights: A Memoir of Leadership in War and Peace, L. Panetta & J. Newton (Penguin Books, 2014)
Articles
- What is Nato, which countries are members and when might Ukraine join? BBC News (2024)
- NATO SUMMIT NEWS: Baltic Sea Now Called a ‘NATO Lake,’ S. Magnuson, National Defense Magazine (2024)
- What to Expect from the NATO Summit for Baltic Sea Security, L. Lopatto & J. C. Moyer, Wilson Center (2024)
- NATO’s Cyber Challenge: The Role of AI in Russia’s Confrontation with the West, S. Bendett, U.S. Department of State (2024)
- NATO’s top official, visiting Kyiv, says Ukraine’s ‘rightful place’ is in the alliance, E. Liston, The New York Times (2023)
- America is exceptional in the nature of its political divide, M. Dimcock & R. Wike, Pew Research Center (2020)
Video
- The Nordic-Baltic region: Cooperation in NATO’s northeast, AtlanticCouncil, YouTube (2024)
- Beyond the SCIF with House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner on Ukraine, AtlanticCouncil, YouTube (2023)
Primary Sources
- Statement by the North Atlantic Council on recent Russian hybrid activities (2024)
- Joint letter to DoD for Urgent Ukraine Aid (2024)
- Address by the President to Ukrainians at the end of the first day of Russia's attacks (2022)
- Statement by the North Atlantic Council on the situation at the Poland-Belarus border (2021)
- Protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty on the Accession of the Republic of Estonia (2003)
- Protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty on the accession of the Republic of Latvia (2003)
- Protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty on the accession of the Republic of Lithuania (2003)
- The North Atlantic Treaty (1949)
*Wildcard Resource*
- Our international panelists in this week’s episode hail from the beautiful countries of Latvia, Estonia, and Croatia. To learn more about the history and culture of these countries, take virtual tours of their national museums or libraries here:
- Hrvatski povijesni muzej, Croatian History Museum
- Latvijas Nacionālā bibliotēka, National Library of Latvia
- Eesti Rahva Muuseum, Estonian National Museum
