Dr. Erich Vad Brigadegeneral A.D.
Frightening or alarming? Europe without security
Lecture on October 18, 2024
What do the South China Sea and the Crimean Peninsula have in common? Are the USA still our friend and ally? By the way, under which flag is Europe fighting? Dr. Erich Vad, Brigadier General (ret.) and former military advisor to Chancellor Angela Merkel, provides answers: Europe needs sustainable security. And this won’t come on its own—it will only be achieved if we actively work for it. Hopefully, Germany will play a key role in this effort. If we want to preserve the life we know and safeguard our freedom, we must understand and act on both our German and European interests. This is what will make us a state and continent strong and influential enough to find and enforce solutions.
Erich Vad outlines ways to prevent wars and secure peace through credible military deterrence, defense capabilities, and diplomacy.
His recently published book, "Frightening or Alarming? Europe Without Security," is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand what it takes to strengthen Europe and maintain peace.
Dr. Erich Vad Brigadegeneral A.D.
Dr. Erich Vad is a retired Brigadier General, business consultant, publicist, and author. A highly sought-after national and international expert on security and military affairs, he served from 2006 to 2013 as Head of Department at the German Chancellery in Berlin, Secretary of the Federal Security Council, and military policy advisor to then-Chancellor Angela Merkel. Alongside his military service in the Bundeswehr, Erich Vad completed a doctoral program in Modern History and Philosophy. His career includes positions in the General Staff, with assignments in the USA and Brussels, as well as roles in the Ministry of Defense, the Foreign Office, and the CDU/CSU parliamentary group in Berlin. Erich Vad has also been a lecturer at Johns Hopkins University and a guest lecturer at the universities of Munich, Salzburg, and Glasgow.
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Recording of the lecture on October 18, 2024
Review of the evening lecture with Dr. Erich Vad Brigadegeneral A.D.
The lecture deals with the current geopolitical challenges and the security situation in Europe, particularly in the context of the war in Ukraine and global tensions. Dr. Erich Vad Brigadegeneral warns of the risks of military escalation, but emphasizes the need to also seek political solutions to prevent major wars. He advocates a balanced foreign policy that includes both military strength and diplomatic dialog in order to maintain national security in an increasingly multipolar world without getting caught up in a global conflict.