Synopsis

NATO’s extensive pool of subject matter experts tell you what you need to know about a wide variety of defence and security issues around the world, and what NATO is doing to make you safer and more secure. From fighting terrorism, to collective defence, learn about the security issues that matter directly from the experts. In this episode, Jamie Shea discusses why NATO is needed and what NATO is doing to prevent wars, which is a fundamental mission of the Alliance. Jamie is the former Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges. Footage includes generic cyber-related shots and images of NATO’s new headquarters in Brussels.

Teaser

Why do we need NATO? Because it’s given us ‘security for 70 years’ argues Jamie Shea, former Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges.

Transcript

--SOUNDBITE—(ENGLISH) Jamie Shea, former Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges. NATO keeps you safe and has provided its citizens security for 70 years. Intro Graphic Sequence TEXT ON SCREEN NATO KEEPS YOU SAFE SINCE 1949 So obviously people begin to take this for granted. I remember when I used to visit my grandparents and I saw all of the photos of cousins who had died in the First World War and in the Second World War. Stock photograph of First World War and Second World War. Many families of that generation had similar experiences. Today, preventing wars is a fundamental mission of the Alliance. PREVENTING WARS Stock footage of public transportation systems. Stock footage of NATO security CCTV systems. What you may not know is that NATO also protects you against many other risks. For instance, NATO has developed a technology that can spot suicide bombers in public transportation systems. NATO is also developing programmes to share intelligence on cyber threats and this has helped us to provide a rapid response to cyber attacks. Wide shot of NATO leaders at NATO summit in Brussels, 2018. NATO country member flags flying outside new HQ. And NATO, over the 70 years of its existence, has done something very special with security. COLLECTIVE SECURITY NATO country member flags flying outside new HQ. SHARED RESPONSIBILITIES Helicopters flying over NATO flags outside new HQ. PEACE AND SECURITY It has made security, for the first time in history, into a collective enterprise where countries recognise, even if they're big like the United States or very small like Luxembourg, that they cannot achieve security by themselves and they can best achieve security through sharing roles, risks and responsibilities with other Allies and at a much lower price than if they tried to do this all by themselves in a much more anarchic and chaotic world. So, in sum, NATO is a unique phenomenon, an alliance of 29 democratic countries working with 41 partners. It gives all of us our best chance of building a better and more peaceful security order, not only for today but for tomorrow as well.