OPEN ECHOES Episode #24

An interview with Dr. Olivier Schmitt

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​Dr. Olivier Schmitt is a professor of political science at the Center for War Studies, University of Southern Denmark (SDU), where he focuses on security policy, military cooperation, arms control, and the evolving nature of warfare. He previously served as director of research and studies at the French Institute of Higher National Defence Studies (IHEDN) and holds a Ph.D. from the Department of War Studies at Kings College London.

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This interview explores the author's insights on alliance dynamics, focusing on:

- A broader definition of alliances, including both formal treaties and informal alignments, to better reflect today’s complex security partnerships.

- Three key motivations behind alliance behavior: balancing (uniting against a threat), bandwagoning (aligning with a dominant power), and tethering (maintaining adversarial relationships within an alliance to prevent open conflict).

- The role of institutional adaptability in ensuring the credibility of alliances.

- The challenges posed by economic ties with adversarial powers, which complicate alliance politics.

- The conclusion that NATO is not merely a military alliance but also a community of democratic values—essential for its long-term stability, cohesion, and legitimacy in the 21st century.

Welcome to OPEN Echoes. OPEN stands for “Other Perspectives Exchange Network.” Our mission is to explore diverse, insightful, and sometimes disruptive viewpoints on matters crucial to NATO.

OPEN Echoes reflects the original thoughts, analyses, and viewpoints shared by academics, thought leaders and non-military experts — spreading ideas, perspectives, and insights across the globe.

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It’s our hope that the insights shared in these episodes will help to impact and influence thinking and conversations long after you take off your headphones.

OPEN Echoes alternates episodes between compelling interviews with non-NATO subject matter experts, and readings from OPEN's wide range of publications. In this episode, we interview Dr. Olivier Schmitt.

Dr. Schmitt’s article, “The Emergence of Military Alliances in the 21 st Century"; is available on the OPEN Publications website here.

OPEN ECHOES Episode #23

OPEN Echoes reflects the original thoughts, analyses, and viewpoints shared by academics, thought leaders and non-military experts — spreading ideas, perspectives, and insights across the globe.

It’s our hope that the insights shared in these episodes will help to impact and influence thinking and conversations long after you take off your headphones.

OPEN Echoes alternates episodes between compelling interviews with non-NATO subject matter experts, and readings from OPEN's wide range of publications. In this episode, we present an audio recording of the OPEN Publication, "Interoperability and Standardization in the Exponential Age” by Dr Michael Gerz.

The reading length is approximately 49 minutes.

Listeners should note that this audio reading does not include the references, images or diagrams included in the original publication. References, images and diagrams can be found in the original publication, which can be accessed and downloaded at https://issuu.com/spp_plp/docs/openpu_2?fr=xKAE9_zU1NQ

OPEN ECHOES Episode #22

OPEN Echoes reflects the original thoughts, analyses, and viewpoints shared by academics, thought leaders and non-military experts — spreading ideas, perspectives, and insights across the globe.

It’s our hope that the insights shared in these episodes will help to impact and influence thinking and conversations long after you take off your headphones.

OPEN Echoes alternates episodes between compelling interviews with non-NATO subject matter experts, and readings from OPEN's wide range of publications. In this episode, we present an audio recording of the OPEN Publication, "Warfare Development for Operational Effectiveness in a Changing Climate” by Ms Louise Selisny.

The reading length is approximately 56 minutes.

Listeners should note that this audio reading does not include the references, images or diagrams included in the original publication. References, images and diagrams can be found in the original publication, which can be accessed and downloaded here.

OPEN ECHOES Episode #21

An interview with Dr. Markos Trichas

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Dr. Markos Trichas is a Visiting Professor at the Centre for Seapower and Strategy focusing on threats to critical spaceborne infrastructure and their impacts to naval and maritime operations. Dr. Trichas is the Head of National Security and Defense Space activities at BAE Systems. Previously he spent more than 10 years at Airbus Defense and Space as the Head of UK Future Military Space programs, three years at the High Energy Astrophysics Group at the Harvard - Smithsonian Centre for Astrophysics and three years at the STFC's Rutherford Appleton Laboratory. He holds a PhD in Astrophysics from Imperial College London and a Masters in Astrophysics from the University of London. He has authored and co-authored more than 100 peer reviewed publications and has more than 11,300 citations to his work.

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This OPEN Echoes interview:

- Clarifies what Mega Constellations are.

- Highlights Strategic Implications for Global Security and geopolitical competition.

- Explores Military and Commercial Advantages of Satellite Mega Constellations.

- Presents Technological Innovations.

- Suggests Recommendations for NATO.

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Dr. Trichas article, “Opportunities and Threats from Commercial Satellite Mega-constellations" is available on the OPEN Publications website here.

OPEN ECHOES Episode #20

An audio reading of “Examining the Maritime Security Potential of the African Standby Force and Other Multinational Approaches to Securing African Waters” by Dr. Ian Ralby.

OPEN Echoes reflects the original thoughts, analyses, and viewpoints shared by academics, thought leaders and non-military experts — spreading ideas, perspectives, and insights across the globe.

It’s our hope that the insights shared in these episodes will help to impact and influence thinking and conversations long after you take off your headphones.

OPEN Echoes alternates episodes between compelling interviews with non-NATO subject matter experts, and readings from OPEN's wide range of publications.

In this episode, we present an audio recording of the OPEN Publication, “Examining the Maritime Security Potential of the African Standby Force and Other Multinational Approaches to Securing African Waters” by Dr. Ian Ralby.

The reading length is approximately 53 minutes.

Listeners should note that this audio reading does not include the references, images or diagrams included in the original publication. References, images and diagrams can be found in the original publication, which can be accessed and downloaded here.

OPEN ECHOES Episode #19

An interview with Dr. Oktay Tanrisever

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Dr. Oktay F. Tanrisever is the Chairman of the Department of International Relations at the Middle East Technical University (METU), Ankara-Turkey. He received his BA and MA degrees from METU in the field of International Relations and PhD Degree from the University of London in the field of Russian Politics.

This OPEN Echoes interview explores:

• The Evolving Complexity of the future Warfare:

• What are Hedging and Risk Acceptance

• The Differences between Dynamic and Static Risk Assessment Models

• Recommendation for NATO strategists in Risk Management and Assessment.

• The factors analysts often overlook when hedging and accepting risks.

Welcome to OPEN Echoes. OPEN stands for “Other Perspectives Exchange Network.” Our mission is to explore diverse, insightful, and sometimes disruptive viewpoints on matters crucial to NATO.

OPEN Echoes reflects the original thoughts, analyses, and viewpoints shared by academics, thought leaders and non-military experts — spreading ideas, perspectives, and insights across the globe.

It’s our hope that the insights shared in these episodes will help to impact and influence thinking and conversations long after you take off your headphones.

OPEN Echoes alternates episodes between compelling interviews with non-NATO subject matter experts, and readings from OPEN's wide range of publications. In this episode, we interview Dr. Oktay Tanrisever.

Dr. Tanrisever’s article, “Hedging and Risk Acceptance in Future Warfare across Domains" is available on the OPEN Publications website here.

OPEN ECHOES Episode #18

An audio reading of “Metaverse: A Tool for Improving Air Commander and Staff Skills” by Kristine Kvam.

Listeners can access the original publication here.

OPEN Echoes reflects the original thoughts, analyses, and viewpoints shared by academics, thought leaders and non-military experts — spreading ideas, perspectives, and insights across the globe.

It’s our hope that the insights shared in these episodes will help to impact and influence thinking and conversations long after you take off your headphones.

OPEN Echoes alternates episodes between compelling interviews with non-NATO subject matter experts, and readings from OPEN's wide range of publications. In this episode, we present an audio recording of the OPEN Publication, “Metaverse: A Tool for Improving Air Commander and Staff Skills” by Kristine Kvam.

The reading length is approximately 1 hour.

Listeners should note that this audio reading does not include the references, images or diagrams included in the original publication. References, images and diagrams can be found in the original publication, which can be accessed and downloaded here.

OPEN ECHOES Episode #17

An interview with Dr. Alessandro Arduino

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Dr. Alessandro Arduino, an affiliate lecturer at the Lau China Institute, King’s College London, a visiting professor at the Geneva Graduate Institute, and a member of the International Code of Conduct Association (ICoCA) advisory group, is a renowned expert on China’s Belt & Road Initiative security and Private Military Companies. His latest book, Money for Mayhem (Rowman & Littlefield) explores the role of mercenaries and private military companies in shaping the future of warfare. His book China’s Private Army: Protecting the New Silk Road (Palgrave) is an essential resource for those seeking to understand China’s security landscape.

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This OPEN Echoes interview explores:

- The Evolution of Chinese Private Military Security Companies examining their development and the crucial role they play in safeguarding the Belt and Road Initiative.

- Challenges in data collection on China's private military and security companies have increased due to stricter regulations and reduced transparency, especially following the enactment of new Chinese security laws

- The role of Chinese private military security companies in multi-domain operations.

- Three potential future scenarios outlined by the author for the next 10 years regarding Chinese private security services.

- Misconceptions about Chinese private security arise from the western tendency to oversimplify these firms, often labeling them as private military or mercenary groups.

- The author’s approach to how his article will contribute to a broader conversation on this issue, including its impact on NATO and the global audience.

Dr. Arduino’s article, “China and the Evolution of Private Military Security Companies in Multi-Domain Operations" is available on the OPEN Publications website here.