Host, Europe In 60 Seconds
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Carl Bildt
Host, Europe In 60 Seconds
Carl Bildt hosts GZERO's Europe In :60 video series. He served as both prime minister and foreign minister of Sweden. Under his leadership, the government initiated major liberal economic reforms and negotiated Sweden’s accession to the EU. Previously, he served as EU special envoy to the former Yugoslavia, high representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, UN special envoy to the Balkans, and co-chair of the Dayton Peace Conference. He also chaired the Global Commission on Internet Governance. In 2021, he was appointed WHO special envoy for the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator.
Jun 27, 2025
In this episode of Europe in :60, Carl Bildt discusses the outcomes of the NATO Summit and where Europe stands with the Israel-Iran conflict.
On NATO’s new plan to spend 5% of their GDP on defense by 2035, Bildt acknowledges that, on paper, it appears to be a significant achievement. However, he expresses skepticism about its feasibility stating, “That's not real and not going to happen, and I think that will create some problems further down the line.” Bildt also suggests that the new target was largely motivated by a desire to appease Donald Trump. He adds, “Making Trump happy with flattery, that seems to be what some in NATO consider essential for European security these days.On the Israel-Iran conflict, Bildt describes the situation as highly uncertain. He notes that "Europeans are hoping for a revival of diplomatic efforts," especially as worries grow about Tehran's potential actions. With ambiguity surrounding inspections, international accords, and Iran’s nuclear ambitions, Bildt warns: "If the Iranians decide to go nuclear after this, it's going to take quite some time, but it's difficult to see that they can be stopped."