The 2024 edition focuses on naval power and the right to free navigation, and therefore both on the maritime dimension of the war in Ukraine and on the challenges that characterize this domain also in other areas, analyzing the role that Italy, Europe and NATO will play there

Aspen Institute Italia, in collaboration with the Navy, the Municipality of Pavia, Intesa Sanpaolo and the University of Pavia, and with the contribution of Eni, Fondazione Banca del Monte di Lombardia and Leonardo, is organizing the third edition of the International Conference “The Battle of Pavia and the Future of European Defense (1525-2025)” on October 19th in Pavia at the Castello Visconteo.

Adolfo Urso, Minister of Enterprise and Made in Italy, and Guido Crosetto, Minister of Defense, will speak with a video message. The presence of top military, civilian, institutional and scientific representatives from both the national and international fields is expected on the date.

The 2024 edition focuses on naval power and the right to free navigation, and therefore both on the maritime dimension of the war in Ukraine and on the challenges that characterize this domain also in other areas, analyzing the role that Italy, Europe and NATO will play. For this reason, the conference and the report that was prepared for the occasion have availed themselves of the collaboration of the Navy.

At the heart of the debate is the future of European defense, which today needs concrete steps forward in various fields, including naval dominance. After all, cornerstones of the world economy, such as ports, oil platforms, gas pipelines, oil pipelines and submarine cables are subject to growing threats caused by international competition and made more frequent also due to climate change. As the Russian-Ukrainian conflict has shown, the role that so-called "disruptive" technologies are already having on the field for all armed forces cannot be underestimated.

In this context, it is clear that European defense in the maritime domain requires the cooperation of multiple actors, from national navies to coast guards, from industry to energy companies. Moreover, the defense industrial base remains a key factor in international competition: just think of how the production capabilities of ammunition and gunpowder are decisive in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. In Europe it will be necessary to spend more and better, urgently identifying priorities and shared approaches.

Meanwhile, the drastic shift in defense priorities, driven by ongoing conflicts, has already triggered epochal changes. Even without the United States, which is still the main investment player in this field with about 875 billion dollars (810 billion euros) spent last year, in 2023 NATO's European allies invested about 390 billion euros in defense, up 19% compared to the previous year.