The article was published as an editorial in Il Messaggero.

Twenty-five years ago I was traveling by train from Munich to Bologna. It was a different world: smartphones did not yet exist, news did not arrive in real time, and we were not constantly connected. When I arrived at Bologna's central station, I was surprised by the heavy presence of law enforcement. It was clear that something serious had happened. It was only when I called my parents in Berlin and heard the fear in their voices that I realized that during those hours on the train, the world had changed.

Today marks the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, a historic tragedy whose aftermath continues to shape the strategic landscape of our century. The images of that day have not faded at all. The collapse of the Twin Towers, civilians running for their lives through the streets of Lower Manhattan, rescue teams rushing to burning buildings. Scenes that shocked not only the United States of America, but the entire world. Nearly three thousand people, from more than ninety countries, lost their lives, making September 11 one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in modern history and a moment that marked a turning point for an entire generation.

The new equilibrium

America had changed. The world had changed. An extraordinary human tragedy had redefined the meaning of security, the perception of danger, and the very role of the United States on the global stage. September 11, a shock comparable to Pearl Harbor, ended the sense of international security of the post-Cold War era and forced the United States to rethink its strategies. Traditional security and defense instruments, designed to confront rival states, proved inadequate in the face of transnational terrorist networks.

It was the defining moment of history's return. Ideological conflict and geopolitical competition had only changed form, not disappeared, as Russian revisionism and the rise of China would show in the years that followed.

The consequences were immediate and profound. For the first time, and to date, for the only time, NATO activated Article 5 of the Washington Treaty and then took charge of its longest military mission, in Afghanistan. A new architecture of domestic security was created in the United States and the long period of the global war on terrorism began. NATO’s response was a powerful display of transatlantic solidarity and reaffirmed a principle that remains essential today: collective defense continues to be the foundation of Euro-Atlantic security.

The two decades dominated by the war on terror also coincided with a period in which growing competition with Russia and China was downplayed. Meanwhile, the concept of national security expanded to include economics, technology, cybersecurity, energy, and supply chains. Thus, the era of counterterrorism gave way to one of great power competition, economic, and technological rivalry.

The belief that prevailed in the 90s in military superiority and globalization as a guarantee of security has given way to a doctrine based on prevention, resilience, and strategic vigilance. Globalization itself, from an engine of economic growth, has also become a source of vulnerability. At the same time, the line between domestic and international security has become increasingly blurred. Cyberattacks, disinformation, pandemics, migration, and supply chain crises show how interconnected today's threats are.

Moreover, since September 11, the perception of threat and insecurity has become deeply ingrained in public discourse. With the spread of social media and the logic of algorithms, fear and insecurity have also become instruments of political mobilization, disinformation, and division.

Legacy

In this new information ecosystem, younger generations learn about September 11 mainly through archival footage and digital content. But the transition from memory to history should not risk losing its meaning. That day, twenty-five years ago, forced the United States and its allies to reconsider the very concept of security and the price necessary to protect it.

Twenty-five years ago I boarded a train in Munich, in one world, and arrived in Bologna, in another. There were no smartphones and no constant updates. Today we are immersed in information, but that does not mean we understand the dangers that surround us better. The strength of democratic societies lies precisely in the ability to face new threats through stable institutions, reliable alliances and resilience, without giving up the values ​​they aim to protect. Perhaps this is the most important legacy of September 11.

And, above all, Never Forget!

Dr. Valbona Zeneli is a senior expert at the Atlantic Council, as well as a member of the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP)!