Optimum Summit: The Portofino Conversation – Keynote with Mike Pompeo on Geopolitics and the West

Sun, 05 Jul 2026 19:47:55 +0000

Mike Pompeo, former United States Secretary of State and Director of the CIA, delivers the keynote address at Optimum Asset Management’s The Portofino Conversation 2026, discussing the geopolitical challenges facing the West, including China, Iran, Ukraine, the Middle East and Europe-US security cooperation.

"Europe can continue to depend on the United States for its security in the same way it has for the last 75 years... These relationships are institutional. They go beyond any one individual."

"No president, no EU leader or set of leaders can really muck it up. Commercial security... our militaries are so deeply intertwined."

"President Trump was spot on... Europe slept for 40 years and didn't do the necessary. Every nation needs to get its act together."

"Every nation is going to have to do more to protect their own sovereignty... every nation is going to want its own sovereign cloud."

"You're not going to trust the Americans to be in your cloud. You're not going to trust the Italians aren't going to trust the French..."

"With technology movements... with AI... cartels, jihadists... have the ability to fire medium range drones for 20,000 euros. You do not want to be calling America saying, 'Hey, I got a problem tonight.'"

"Every country, every leader needs to think about what are the things that materially matter to my own country... have some of that or that which you don't have is in the hands of a deep friendly."

"The United States depends on Europe for its security... European intelligence services saved American lives."

"I hope you all will continue to do the necessary to deserve that trust... spend what it takes, but spend it on the things that really matter for your own internal security and for that of your partners."

"Everyone of us stronger but together? Yes... how about just some European defense and then we'll all figure out how to sort it out together."

Optimum Summit: The Portofino Conversation – Keynote with Mike Pompeo on Geopolitics and the West >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> https://youtu.be/GelxZqtx8HM?si=oYjnPZOzijqgjYYB