#StratComPodcast/S7E3: Shaping stability: NATO in a decade of uncertainty (with Oana Lungescu)

In this episode of #StratComPodcast, we sit down with Oana Lungescu, a distinguished journalist and communications expert whose career has inspired many communicators. Born in Bucharest, Romania, Oana began her career at the BBC's Romanian Service in 1985, eventually becoming its Editor. In 1997, she transitioned to the BBC World Service as a European Affairs Correspondent, reporting extensively on EU and NATO developments from Brussels and Berlin.

In 2010, Oana broke new ground by becoming NATO's first female Spokesperson, as well as the first journalist and the first individual from the former Eastern Bloc to hold the position. Over her 13-year tenure, she provided strategic communication guidance to two NATO Secretaries General—Anders Fogh Rasmussen and Jens Stoltenberg—and directed the Alliance's messaging during critical events, including Russia's annexation of Crimea and the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Her innovative approach included the unprecedented declassification of intelligence to counter disinformation, a strategy that has been instrumental in shaping public perception and policy.

In this episode, Oana Lungescu offers an eloquent and insightful exploration of NATO’s pivotal role in shaping global politics. She reflects on the annexation of Crimea as a defining moment that shattered the aspirations of democratic nations to build a lasting peace with Russia. According to Oana, this event marked the end of an era of optimism and ushered in what she describes as "a period of adaptation," where NATO was compelled to transform in profound ways—not just to keep pace with the rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape, but to actively steer those changes in favor of democratic societies. Her reflections provide a nuanced perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing NATO as it fulfills its mission in an increasingly complex world.