Europe needs its own version of President Donald Trump’s Golden Dome project to allow the region to gain a sovereign integrated enemy cell defense system with short-, medium- and long-range capabilities, said Saab CEO and President Micael Johansson.
In an interview with Time during the recently concluded Shangri-La Security Dialogue in Singapore, Johansson expressed his optimism that there is a solid understanding between European nations on the urgency and importance of pushing for the region’s own sovereign defense system. “There have been political statements like the European Sky Shield Initiative, but it’s really slow. That’s the problem,” he said.
Under the initiative, nations can jointly procure an air and missile defense system, ensuring greater interoperability and achieving efficiency and cost-effectiveness. The effort aims to support each nation’s programs to strengthen their defense and deterrence capabilities.
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Johansson plans to use his recently assumed post as president and chairman of the Aerospace, Security and Defence Industries Association of Europe to advocate for greater collaboration in the region and push for a European Golden Dome.
“We have a good foundation of a defense industrial base, and that’s because we are globally competitive as industries, but we have so much spending going outside Europe in a different direction, mainly the U.S. I want a competitive landscape,” he said.