Some NATO defense technologies lag behind even North Korea — Zaluzhnyi

NATO countries significantly lag in certain defense technologies behind China, Iran, and even North Korea.

This opinion was expressed by Ukraine’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom, former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, during a conversation with the Athena Lab Research Center.

According to Zaluzhnyi, 2024 marked the beginning of artificial intelligence use in drones. Throughout the year, valuable experience was gained in applying “smart” unmanned systems on land, in the air, and at sea, which could lead to profound changes in the nature of warfare. Ukraine recognized this, adapted, and became a pioneer in innovation.

Russia, China, Iran, and even North Korea have also embraced this challenge and are developing AI and combat drone technologies. Meanwhile, the former Commander-in-Chief asserts that NATO members, overall, are significantly behind in this area, and their adversaries could exploit this advantage.

Zaluzhnyi also notes that countries are currently trying to determine the types of forces and weapons needed for modern warfare. However, this is very challenging, as the process is dynamic and in a state of active evolution. Nevertheless, states will generally need to adapt their armies to improve coordination between units and integrate cutting-edge tools for conducting combat operations.