The annual Munich Security Conference is one of the most important meetings to convene international security decision-makers. This year, MITRE and the Atlantic Council shared our analysis of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's options to strengthen its eastern flank.
MITRE at Munich: Driving Technology-Driven Solutions for Euro-Atlantic Security and Stability
With the nature of threats constantly evolving, NATO is working to bolster its collective defense. A driving principle for this effort: An attack on one Ally is an attack on all.
This focus on collective defense was at the center of discussions at the 2025 Munich Security Conference held February 14-16. MITRE participated—and hosted a roundtable of senior military and NATO officials, defense and foreign ministers, and national security experts to discuss technology-driven solutions in support of Euro-Atlantic defense plans.
On the eve of the conference, both U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte called for urgent increases in NATO member countries' defense spending. A critical ask: ramping up defense production on both sides of the Atlantic. Rutte noted the need for "more, much more, and faster," while Hegseth pushed for members to increase spending to 5% of their gross domestic product.
Of these goals, MITRE National Security Sector Senior Vice President Keoki Jackson says, “We all recognize the need for more and faster. We must also act smarter.
“It's not merely about increasing defense budgets. We need to ensure every euro, dollar, and pound spent enhances our collective security in meaningful ways."
Given our long history and experience supporting U.S. defense and intelligence communities, MITRE is uniquely positioned to engage in this effort. In partnership with the Atlantic Council, we're using mission engineering and advanced modeling and simulation tools to analyze NATO's force mix options. This includes evaluating ways to harden the Alliance's eastern flank, measure the value of multidomain operations, deter aggression, and ensure peace.
It’s not merely about increasing defense budgets. We need to ensure every euro, dollar, and pound spent enhances our collective security in meaningful ways.
Helping NATO Adapt Faster and Smarter
The event at Munich this year capped off a series of roundtables MITRE hosted with the Atlantic Council in 2024 to support our analytical proof-of-concept. These forums garnered critical insights from senior officials from NATO Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, NATO Allied Command Transformation, and U.S. European Command, as well as allied-nation government ministers and ambassadors.
As NATO seeks to reinforce the Allied defense posture in its eastern territory, this joint research effort addresses several critical questions:
- What force modernization changes and investments should NATO consider for rapid adaptation in the 2025-2030 timeframe?
- What capabilities demonstrate the greatest operational cost-benefit?
- What improvements can be achieved through multidomain operations?
- How can NATO better integrate current formations with autonomous systems to achieve their goals?
MITRE and the Atlantic Council will release a final report this spring that incorporates geopolitical considerations to answer those questions—and help improve NATO's capabilities to meet evolving challenges in the Euro-Atlantic region.
Beyond the force mix recommendations, the team will make the analytical framework and modeling capabilities developed available to NATO for follow-on work and future defense planning.
MITRE has long been a technical partner and resource for America's allies, working from sites around the world. We bring an unbiased, data-driven approach to aid our government sponsors and international partners in solving complex national security problems.
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