Why NATO Can’t Afford to Ignore Africa: The Key to Global Security Amid Rising Threats

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What role should NATO play in today’s security landscape—and how do regions like Africa factor into long-term strategy?

In this episode of the "At the Boundary" podcast, host Jim Cardoso is joined by retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant General Kirk Smith to explore evolving priorities in national security and defense cooperation. The conversation covers NATO’s post-counterterrorism role, the shifting dynamics of the transatlantic relationship, and why Africa has become a strategic focal point for issues like migration, terrorism, and global power competition.

Also discussed:

• The value of European NATO partners’ diverse perspectives
• Why security cooperation is key to long-term stability
• The continued relevance of Special Operations Forces (SOF)
• How allies maintain interoperability across missions and regions

This episode offers timely insights for anyone interested in alliance strategy, emerging global threats, and the future of military partnerships.

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Links From the Episode:

• Register for the FSP Cyber Frontier Summit Here 

At the Boundary from the Global and National Security Institute at the University of South Florida, features global and national security issues we’ve found to be insightful, intriguing, fascinating, maybe controversial, but overall just worth talking about.

A "boundary" is a place, either literal or figurative, where two forces exist in close proximity to each other. Sometimes that boundary is in a state of harmony. More often than not, that boundary has a bit of chaos baked in. The Global and National Security Institute will live on the boundary of security policy and technology and that's where this podcast will focus.

The mission of GNSI is to provide actionable solutions to 21st-century security challenges for decision-makers at the local, state, national and global levels. We hope you enjoy At the Boundary.

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