Under the title 'Too much geopolitics: a convenient conversation', PROA Comunicación has held a new session of its Current Affairs Dialogues General Félix Sanz Roldán, former director of the National Intelligence Centre, and Florentino Portero, historian and analyst of international relations, took part.
Lucía Casanueva, managing partner of PROA Comunicación, warned that companies must manage increasing pressure to take a position in geopolitical conflicts without compromising their stability and reputation.
Geopolitical tensions and their effects on the economy dominate the news agenda with a growing volume of information, in many cases confusing and biased. In the last Current Affairs Dialogue from PROA CommunicationThe General of the European Commission, held at its headquarters in Madrid, Gen. Félix Sanz Roldán and international relations historian and analyst Florentino Portero have addressed Spain's position in the new and conflictive international scenario, as well as the importance of political and business decision-makers being able to adequately interpret the new global context.
During his speech, Sanz Roldánformer director of the National Intelligence Centre between 2009 and 2019, has raised the defence and security needs of Spain and Europe in the context of the new policies of the US government, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the rise of China. "Europe must address a treaty change to recognise defence between member states. The EU has the instrument, two million well-equipped soldiers, with which to generate a common defence policy, a European identity and a European chain of command. It is a question of will," he said.
The former Chief of Defence Staff between 2004 and 2008 warned that geopolitics has become part of the priorities of companies, not just large multinationals: "The thing that companies need to be most concerned about is the unpredictability of events. Companies need to plan, but now it is impossible when, for example, tariffs change from one moment to the next.
He also warned that "geopolitics is taking up more space than it should and needs to be put in its place". "For example, in view of the death of the Holy Father, the Pope's funeral is being interpreted as an occasion for world leaders to meet in Rome, talk about geopolitics and try to resolve some of the problems that affect us. In other words, an event as unique as this becomes a geopolitical event.
"In this period of uncertainty, my advice is to spoil as little as possible, to return to a Kissinger-style order: let us be able to respect those who have the power in the same way that those who have the power respect us", Sanz Roldán concluded.
Rebuilding the relationship with the United States
Florentino Portero referred to the necessary change in the training of senior executives, including knowledge of international relations, as is the case with executives in countries such as the United Kingdom and France, "so that they understand the theatre of operations". In this sense, he also advocated that Spanish embassies should provide greater coverage for companies. "In other countries, large commercial contracts are closed with ambassadors. Foreign trade is done with the State and we must learn to do it better".
Regarding Donald Trump's turnaround on Russia and Europe, the university professor and PhD in Contemporary History indicated that "the EU will be able to rebuild its relationship with the United States to a large extent, but it will be in a different way and will require much more European commitment". "In Europe we have an answer to all the problems, but we need to organise that answer, and if we don't do it, we are guaranteed to decline for a century. It is time for high politics", he said.
The two experts also analysed how the search for European strategic autonomy also creates opportunities in sectors as different as the defence industry and technology. It should be remembered that the government plans to increase defence spending and reach the target of 2% of GDP this year, in the face of pressure from Washington and NATO. To achieve this, Pedro Sánchez announced this week a new investment of 10,471 million euros, bringing the total to more than 33,100 million euros by 2025. In this regard, both experts were optimistic about NATO's future, given the good results that, in their opinion, it has produced to date.
At the presentation of the colloquium, Lucía CasanuevaThe managing partner of PROA Comunicación, pointed out that "companies must manage increasing pressure to take a position in geopolitical conflicts and this must be done without compromising their stability and reputation". She also stressed that "companies must communicate with purpose, acting with transparency and judgement in the face of growing social and geopolitical pressures".
At the close of the Dialogue, which was attended by CEOs and senior executives from the private sector, as well as representatives of various business associations, there was also time for an intense exchange of ideas with the speakers, proof of the uncertainty that international relations project on the different industries. "At PROA Comunicación we are committed to a strategic approach to both communication and public affairs, and we seek to create spaces for reflection in the midst of noise and misinformation. We not only manage messages, but also build trust and anticipate scenarios in an uncertain environment," said Casanueva.
