Hassan Al-Sitri
The closing session of the “Manama Dialogue” witnessed in-depth discussions on the features of the “new nuclear era” and the challenges posed by strategic and technological transformations to global security.
The Chairman of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Military Committee, Admiral Giuseppe Cafu Dragone, stressed that dialogue and security are inseparable, stressing that peace is not built on hope, but on understanding and responsibility.
He explained that nuclear deterrence is not a tool of provocation, but rather a means of maintaining stability, calling for combining force and technology to ensure security based on transparency and discipline.
For her part, Deputy Prime Minister and former Minister of Justice of Romania, Anna Birchall, stressed that nuclear energy is not a threat, but rather an opportunity for survival and progress if used responsibly, stressing that the world is entering an era in which development opportunities intersect with moral and security challenges. and
She called for transforming the atom from a symbol of threat into a symbol of hope by investing in peaceful nuclear energy and enhancing international cooperation to build a safe and sustainable future.
Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, Admiral Giuseppe Cafu Dragone, stressed that dialogue and security are inseparable, and peace is not built on hope, but on understanding and responsibility.
He said, during the closing plenary session of the “Manama Dialogue,” which was titled: “A New Nuclear Age? Strategic risks and opportunities: “Our world today is becoming increasingly complex and uncertain, and this lack of uncertainty is what keeps NATO alert and prepared,” explaining that as long as nuclear weapons exist in the world, deterrence will remain an essential part of the alliance’s work, because nuclear deterrence is not “the West’s fears,” but rather a global responsibility aimed at maintaining peace and stability.
Admiral Cavo Dragon pointed out that previous wars were bilateral, and that nuclear powers reduced their arsenals over the past decades, but on the other hand, new, more complex threats have emerged today. He explained that NATO’s nuclear deterrence is not based on provocation, but rather on transparency, discipline, and responsibility, stressing that the regular exercises conducted by the alliance aim to ensure the safety of procedures and the effectiveness of coordination from the highest levels of leadership to the lowest. He said: “We are working in a completely new strategic environment, in which risks are rising, communication channels are declining, and the risk of miscalculation is increasing.”
He added that deterrence in the twenty-first century no longer depends only on the size of nuclear arsenals, but also on technology, cyber capabilities, and smart systems that allow predicting threats and making accurate and rapid decisions.
He pointed out that “the machine does not bear moral responsibility, but rather the human being,” stressing that the moral and humane decision remains in the hands of leaders and decision-makers, and that the responsibility of the military is to provide policy makers with frank and objective facts.
He also spoke about the alliance’s recent experience in Northern Europe, stressing that it did not include the use of live nuclear weapons, but it strengthened joint readiness and constituted a clear message that unified deterrence is the cornerstone of collective security.
He added that NATO will continue to work with partners in the region to build confidence and enhance joint capabilities, stressing the importance of using these capabilities for peaceful purposes and in a responsible manner.
He continued: “We are not afraid of the new nuclear era, but rather we seek to understand it and direct it toward peace. We at NATO believe that successful deterrence is what prevents war, not what starts it. Our collective responsibility is to maintain peace through strength, transparency, and common understanding.”
For her part, Deputy Prime Minister and former Minister of Justice of Romania, Anna Birchall, said that nuclear energy is one of the cleanest sources of energy, and it is not a threat, but rather an opportunity for survival and progress if used responsibly.
Birchall emphasized that the world is entering a new nuclear era, in which economic and scientific opportunities intersect with security and ethical challenges, noting that the year 2025 witnessed a shift in the global discourse about nuclear energy, as executive leaders began talking about nuclear fusion as a future source of clean energy.
She said that Romania was one of the first countries to reject Russian technology from the beginning, and expanded its civil nuclear program in accordance with international standards and non-proliferation agreements, stressing that civil nuclear energy is no longer a secondary option, but rather a strategic necessity for survival and ensuring independence in the field of energy.
She continued: “Nuclear energy illuminates cities, treats cancer, and helps combat climate change. “It is a facet of scientific progress if used intelligently, but it can be a tragedy if misused.”
She pointed out that nuclear energy must be managed within a framework of transparency and shared responsibility, so that it is a symbol of trust and not fear, stressing that building confidence in societies is an essential element for accepting nuclear energy as safe and clean energy.
She also stressed the importance of enhancing education and public awareness, and intensifying investment in peaceful nuclear research, especially small modular reactors, which are considered an “affordable and safe technological opportunity.”
She added: We must transform the atom from a symbol of threat into a symbol of hope. Our children will one day look at this stage as a historical moment in which humans chose to use technology to serve humanity, not to destroy it.
Birchall concluded her speech by emphasizing that nuclear energy can be a basis for building peace and prosperity if it is based on international cooperation, moral responsibility, and respect for global safety standards, saying: Technology saves lives, but it does not carry a conscience. Our responsibility is to direct it towards good, and to make the new nuclear era an era of peace, not confrontation.
