DIGITAL SHIELD: INTEGRATING HEALTH INTELLIGENCE INTO NATO’S DEFENSE STRATEGY

The COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s war against Ukraine have reshaped how security is perceived, exposing the interdependence of health, defence and digital infrastructures. National security must therefore broaden to include health resilience as a core operational priority. As NATO and the EU move forward with digital transformation, embedding health intelligence becomes essential for readiness, force protection and civil–military cooperation. This paper argues that real-time health data, wearable devices and AI-enabled surveillance can support not only responses to biological threats but also anticipation of vulnerabilities before they escalate. By shifting from reactive to proactive postures, NATO and the EU can build more resilient and human-centred security frameworks adapted to hybrid warfare. Recognising health systems as critical infrastructure, alongside energy and transport, makes integration a strategic necessity. Doing so will shape the credibility, adaptability and resilience of NATO and the EU in decades ahead, strengthening security in an increasingly complex environment.