Inspired by a European Parliament plenary session he attended as a high school student, Thessaloniki-born Stavros Piperidis resolved early on to pursue a career in international relations. Demonstrating outstanding commitment to his goal, he earned a BA in International and European Studies from the University of Macedonia and an MA in International Relations from the prestigious Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), which he attended with the support of a graduate student scholarship from Fulbright Greece.
Here he talks to Business Partners about his passion for international relations and security, the transformative impact of the Fulbright Program, and key trends in transatlantic relations and global security.
Over the course of your academic career, you developed a distinct interest in international security and defense, particularly in the transatlantic context. Tell us a bit about the key experiences that inspired this path.
National security is the bedrock of our prosperity; therefore, we must do our best to safeguard it. This understanding was shaped through direct, on-the-ground experience in the Hellenic Army and the NATO Rapid Deployable Corps – Greece (NRDC-GR), where I saw strategic theory translate into operational reality. This practical foundation was invaluable during my time as an intern at the Permanent Representation of Greece to NATO in 2022. There, I witnessed the alliance’s response as Russia began its war against Ukraine, a masterclass in the necessity of transatlantic unity and collective defense.
These experiences solidified my motivation to give back to my country, ensure our collective prosperity, and elevate our international standing. It also led to a targeted academic pursuit in transatlantic relations and defense. After completing my degree in International and European Studies at the University of Macedonia, I spent two years on postgraduate studies at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in Washington DC, where, I moved from theory to policy, engaging with senior US practitioners on critical issues such as space security and emerging technologies. This dual immersion in European and American strategic thought, paired with past military and diplomatic experiences, has given me a unique perspective on how to elevate our collective and national standing on the world stage.
Effective international cooperation is often built on the foundations of genuine human connections
The Fulbright Foreign Student Program played an important role in enabling you to pursue your graduate studies at Johns Hopkins. What are the key takeaways from your experience as a Fulbrighter?
The Fulbright Program taught me a fundamental lesson: Effective international cooperation is often built on the foundations of genuine human connections. While countries run through governments, parliaments, and national administrations, I saw how powerful it can be to maintain good and established relationships with people on the other side of the Atlantic. Even though national interests guide policy, the real work of collaboration happens between people who trust one another. Fulbright excels at creating this connective tissue. It equips us with crucial cultural context and personal relationships that last a lifetime, allowing us to see what truly connects us.
These two years also sharpened my perspective on the evolving US-Europe relationship. While our partnership spans decades of shared history, my time in the US reinforced my belief that for the relationship to remain viable, Europe must enhance its own strategic capacity. This isn’t about creating distance, but about forging a more balanced, resilient, and ultimately stronger alliance. Being a Fulbrighter enabled these honest conversations for the future.
Looking at one of your key areas of focus, which elements do you think are central to NATO’s strategic direction given today’s security environment?
Today, NATO is the most successful military alliance in history. It has effectively boosted its deterrence and defense since the beginning of Russia’s war in Ukraine and has proven remarkably adaptive.
I believe the alliance should evaluate its strategic direction and address the changing nature of conflict. Modern wars are increasingly comprehensive in nature, supported through global and interconnected networks of political, financial, and technological support. Therefore, NATO should put more effort into significantly bolstering its second core task: cooperative security.
This means moving beyond a reactive military posture to proactively building resilient partnerships and engaging in crisis prevention. It is vital in realizing the alliance’s 360-degree approach, particularly on its southern flank, where threats from terrorism and regional instability require robust cooperative engagement at the institutional level. With stronger partnerships, NATO can tackle challenges before they surface, making the alliance more initiative-taking and globally aware.
As the EU rethinks its defense and security, how do you see its role—particularly in relation to NATO and the US—evolving in the coming time?
The future of EU defense hinges on a pragmatic dual approach: enhancing European capabilities while reinforcing the transatlantic alliance. We must be clear-eyed that for the near future, NATO is the cornerstone of our collective deterrence and defense. European armies are deeply integrated into NATO’s military plans and force structures, which rely on US forces and strategic enablers. Excluding any black swans, I don’t see the EU replacing NATO’s core task soon. Therefore, the EU must evolve into a more coherent and capable security provider, shouldering a bigger share of the security burden, while also persuading the average European of such necessity.
Fulbright equips us with crucial cultural context and personal relationships that last a lifetime
The success of this evolution, however, depends on showing the United States that a strategically autonomous EU is a stronger partner, not a competitor. This is part of a broader challenge in navigating institutional friction with vital non-EU NATO allies. Overcoming this requires skillful diplomacy that aligns our security interests while resolutely upholding the core EU values that some partners may not fully share.
Innovation and emerging technologies are significantly impacting security and defense. What does this mean for the sector and allied nations?
Although numerous technologies—including AI, autonomous vehicles, quantum computing, and hypersonics—are disruptive in defense, the most critical shift is not about any single technology but about the process of innovation itself. The challenge is developing technology at speed and scale, securing supply chains, and managing costs, all while dealing with complex bureaucracies, military or civilian, and operating at peacetime.
To stay ahead, allies have to create an ecosystem of constant experimentation. This means breaking down barriers between industry and military to create environments where troops can assess and refine new capabilities in real time. This iterative, operator-driven approach, seen in initiatives such as NATO’s Task Force X, is the key to turning technological potential into decisive advantage.
For more information visit www.fulbright.gr
