Miguel Ángel Ballesteros began by mentioning that when the Forum for the Integral Culture of National Security was created by ministerial order, it was intended for think tanks to be represented. It was agreed that an entity not part of civil society, in this case, the Spanish Institute for Strategic Studies (IEEE), would temporarily designate the representative of the think tanks, with INCIPE being the chosen institute. Ballesteros continues by warning that in order to predict crises in a world as turbulent as today’s, digitalized systems are needed that allow for the integration of an infinite amount of data in real-time. For this, it must be taken into account that threats are no longer only on land, sea, and air; attention must now also be given to cyberspace, outer space, and the cognitive domain.
Secondly, he establishes that there have always been information wars, but social networks have exacerbated the problem. Both think tanks and other involved organizations must manage crises in an integrated way, using hybrid strategies, without forgetting that current wars take place in the military, economic, and technological arenas, the latter being a major focus of disruption. In fact, there is a geopolitics of technology, through which cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns, and actions in outer space are studied. Miguel Ángel Ballesteros advocates for revaluing intelligence and announces that efforts are being made for collective security, despite the obstacle posed by Russia’s veto power in the UN.
A key concept highlighted by the director of the DSN is human security, which Ballesteros divides into seven fields: economic security, food security, pandemic and epidemic security, environmental security, personal security, communication security, political security, and minority security. From these, sixteen areas of action within National Security are derived, in which the citizen plays a fundamental role. Autonomous Communities also play a role in the National Security Sectoral Conferences, not forgetting the situation committees (which have created working groups on cybersecurity, welcoming Ukrainians, and monitoring energy savings) and other bodies participating in the National Security System. It should not be overlooked that the National Security Department must integrate information, advise the President of the Government, maintain a warning system, and manage special communication networks.
Regarding the National Security Law, Miguel Ángel Ballesteros points out that it outlines the existing threats and risks, and that there are three priority axes that determine the relevance of each section: vital interests, essential interests (prosperity and well-being of citizens), and strategic interests (peace and international security). Furthermore, the law promotes a greater culture of defense and national security in Spain, for which an Integral National Security Culture Plan has been developed with four areas of action: training, public communication, projection abroad, and active participation of society, the public sector, and the private sector. As seen, the Forum for the Integral Culture of National Security is part of an Integral Plan developed with the strategic compass of the European Union in mind.
Following the questions raised during the debate, the director of the DSN establishes that schools and sports are vehicles for transmitting values, which influences the conception of national security, as it is based on solidarity, teamwork, and sacrifice. He also states that Spain needs think tanks and universities to foster a national security culture and that the significant increase in defense spending must continue until it reaches 2%. For his part, the Secretary-General of INCIPE, Manuel Alabart, concludes by stating that INCIPE receives the representation of think tanks with a service and responsibility vocation, ensuring a forthcoming work plan.
Jaime Osorio
Asistente de comunicación, INCIPE