Working in the defence industry requires ethical reflection.

I believe the public debate would benefit from a stronger pacifist voice and I ask myself why the voices got less loud. Critical reflection on defence, military capability and the use of public resources should not disappear simply because the security environment has become more challenging.

For me, engaging in this ethical discussion and serious reflection makes our industry, our institutions and our society stronger.

Two statements have stayed with me throughout my career:

If you want peace, prepare for war

• There may be truth in this principle. At the same time, it contains a fundamental tension: societies invest enormous resources in achieving a military balance, only to rearm again in response to and inalignment with their adversaries.

If we have it, we use it

• Avaialbe military capability can influence political and military decision-making. This makes responsible development, clear governance and democratic oversight essential.

The continued expansion of military capability must not automatically lead to the militarisation of society. Defence policy must remain connected to political responsibility, diplomacy, international cooperation and an honest discussion about long-term consequences.

I am deeply convinced that our democratic system, our freedom and our way of life are worth defending. 

In a nutshell, we need to avoid militarism without compromising the resilience of society and ability to defend.