Admiral Dragone says national defence goes beyond army

National defence cannot remain exclusively within the domain of armed forces, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, Chair of the NATO Military Committee, said at the Shangri-La Dialogue forum in Singapore, according to The Times.

He stated that protecting a country has become the responsibility of multiple actors, including politicians, civil society, academia, institutions, and industry.

The admiral noted that several states are already moving toward a more comprehensive approach that combines military and civilian preparedness with effective public communication and societal resilience. 

As an example, he pointed to Sweden’s “total defence” concept, where the population is trained to respond to crises and threats at different levels.

Dragone emphasised that, under this approach, every citizen is viewed not only as a subject of protection but also as an active participant in ensuring national security.

By Jeyhun Aghazada