Talk with retired General Christian Badia – How Europe must Rethink its Security
Christian Badia was Deputy Commander of NATO's Allied Command Transformation in Norfolk, Virginia, until July 2025, making him the highest-ranking German soldier in the alliance. After more than 40 years in the German Armed Forces, the four-star general has ended his service and founded his own consulting firm specialising in strategic concepts and security policy issues.
Badia is considered an experienced military strategist, change manager and passionate NATO enthusiast. His career took him from the cockpit perspective of a fighter jet pilot to the interface between the military, politics and international diplomacy.
In our conversation, he reports that he was fascinated early on by the responsibility that a jet pilot bears – making decisions alone, often in a fraction of a second, and yet acting with a strategic eye. This thinking in terms of scenarios, risks and opportunities continues to shape his approach today.
His interest in security and defence policy developed from his experience of how closely military, political and social issues are interlinked. Badia has always found working at this interface particularly exciting – where strategy becomes concrete implementation.
- Europe's security situation
In the interview, Badia talks about the security policy challenges facing Europe. He emphasises that the goal must be an independent European defence capability, with a particular focus on cyber defence, space infrastructure and the electromagnetic spectrum.
👉 ‘There is no prize for second best on the battlefield,’ says Badia, referring to the growing global threats.
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The importance of technology and innovation
A key issue for him is the connection between technology, security and industry. Europe must build a ‘defence industrial base’ to secure its independence. He is hopeful about the younger generation, whose interest in new technologies and responsibility for the future he sees as crucial to Europe's strength. -
Conclusion: Strategic foresight and European independence
The conversation with Christian Badia shows how security policy is changing and what strategic responses Europe must find. His message: Only those who think ahead will remain capable of acting – in politics as well as in business.