Available to book
Stefanie Babst
Geopolitics
Europe
National Security
Dr. Stefanie Babst brings 22 years at NATO's top decision-making level to strategy on Russia and Ukraine, European security, and geopolitical risk. A trusted advisor to ministers and heads of state, she ranks among Germany's leading female thought leaders.
Political Analyst
Thought Leader
Academic
Educator
Author
Executive
Dr. Stefanie Babst is a security strategist and former NATO official whose decades inside the Alliance's most senior decision-making circles give her a rare, practitioner's understanding of European defence, geopolitical risk, and Russia policy.
Over 22 years at NATO's International Staff, Stefanie rose from German Information Officer to Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy, becoming the highest-ranking German woman in the International Staff. From 2012 to 2020 she led NATO's Strategic Foresight Team, advising six NATO Secretaries General and four Chairmen of the Military Committee on emerging risks, future crises, and the Alliance's long-term strategic direction.
Since leaving NATO in 2020, Stefanie has advised European governments, financial institutions, and multinational organisations on international security, serving on the boards of the German Council on Foreign Relations and the Danish Center for War Studies. In 2023, she published Blind Spots on Western strategy toward Russia, since translated into Ukrainian and Estonian.
Drawing on first-hand experience of NATO's strategic planning and an extensive network of senior political and military leaders, Stefanie offers informed analysis of Russia's war against Ukraine, the future of transatlantic security, and Europe's evolving defence landscape. Named among Germany's top female thought leaders and public speakers, she provides straightforward, actionable recommendations grounded in decades of direct experience. Audiences gain unparalleled insights into how strategic decisions are made, what geopolitical developments mean for governments and businesses, and where the greatest risks and opportunities lie in an increasingly uncertain world.
Stefanie brings an insider's understanding of NATO, European security, and geopolitical change, helping audiences make better-informed decisions in a rapidly evolving international environment.
Topics, sessions and talks
Dr. Stefanie Babst examines the twin pressures reshaping NATO: a Russia intent on subjugating Ukraine and unravelling the transatlantic bond that has anchored European security for decades. Drawing on her years inside the alliance, she unpacks why wars are lost as much in narratives and cyberspace as on the battlefield, and challenges policymakers to move beyond crisis management toward a genuine strategic vision. Audiences come away with a sharper sense of what a resilient, forward-looking NATO could look like.
Dr. Stefanie Babst unpacks what happens when Washington steps back from its traditional role in NATO, from softened positions on Russia to reduced military intelligence sharing with Ukraine. She argues that Europe and Canada can no longer wait for American reassurance and must take charge of their own defence, from restructuring NATO's command structure to closing gaps in intelligence and mobility. Audiences leave with a clear-eyed view of what European-led security actually requires.
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frequently asked questions
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Email stefanie.babst@getapeptalk.com or call PepTalk on +44 20 3835 2929 (UK) or +1 737 888 5112 (US), and one of our speaker agents will contact you within hours to confirm Stefanie's availability and fees. If you can, please include your budget upfront – it helps us fast-track your request. It’s also helpful to know the date, format (virtual or in-person), location, and a bit about your audience.
Dr. Stefanie Babst speaks on the future of NATO, US decoupling from Europe, and European-led defence strategy. She served as Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy at NATO and led the Alliance's Strategic Foresight Team from 2012 to 2020, advising six Secretaries General on emerging risks and long-term strategic direction.
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