Category: Europe

Every year, subject matter experts across the defence capacity building community gather to share lessons learned and best practices. Participants exchanged views on the implementation of an Enhanced Defence Capacity Building Package for Moldova approved at February’s meeting of NATO defence ministers, as well as similar, tailored forms of defence capacity-building support for other NATO partners.

Through Defence Capacity Building Packages, NATO helps partner countries to strengthen their resilience, by helping them to enhance their national defence and security capacities. Specific activities of support include advice on the reform of national security forces, structures and institutions, defence education and training, and assistance in different domains including logistics and cyber defence.

Under this year’s conference theme, “Shaping Today to Succeed Tomorrow”, the main topics of discussion were the Future Operating Environment, Cross-Domain Command and Control, and the challenges and changes associated with the NATO Defence Planning Process and capacity building.

Invited to the main stage by General Lavigne, SACT, Lieutenant General Adamczak delivered his keynote speech emphasising the importance of NATO’s warfare development activities, next generation command and control, and preparing for a future high intensity conflict with a peer adversary. “Future military operations will, undoubtedly, be multi-domain by nature. They will require an increased interoperability to support manoeuver plans capable of delivering an incredible combination of mutually contributing effects”.

The Director General of the International Military Staff went on to say, “Only the seamless combination of preparing for both the challenges and threats of today and tomorrow will build the continuum NATO needs to keep-up with an ever evolving security environment. And for that, nothing is truer than General Lavigne’s motto: ‘we must win as a team’.”

The first part of the programme was held at NATO HQ in Brussels, where participants were welcomed by the Director of the Cooperative Security Division, Major General Dacian-Tiberiu Șerban. In his remarks, Major General Serban noted the changed security environment and the consequences for not only, Allied Nations, but also Partner Nations. “From Russia’s significant and direct threat to the Alliance, to addressing the consequences of climate change and countering terrorism, the complexity of today’s strategic environment poses an ongoing challenge for NATO and our Partners. Collaboration and cooperation remain key to mitigating these challenges and responding effectively”, he underlined.

He also referenced NATO’s 2022 Strategic Concept, and the decisions taken at the Madrid and Vilnius Summits, which aim to reinforce cooperation between the Alliance and existing Partners, as well as seek out new partnerships with like-minded Nations. “Our partnerships extend from Latin America to East Asia, encompassing the Balkans, the Black Sea region, Northern Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, and the Indo-Pacific. We are also looking to expand our partnership network, to Nations that share our values, security interests, and commitment to upholding the Rules-Based International Order. Our objective is to enhance our global awareness, strengthen cooperation, and fortify our collective security and resilience”, noted Major General Șerban.

The next day, the Partner military representatives received an introduction to the standardisation, the initiatives in place for Partners to enable it, and the role it plays in building interoperability amongst allied forces and between partner and allied forces. They were then briefed on the activities undertaken by the Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre, in support of Allies and Partners, including with ongoing medical and practical support to Ukraine, as well as earlier this year, the support provided to Slovenia, after the country was hit by devastating floods. 

The afternoon was dedicated to a discussion on the ongoing challenge posed by terrorism, especially to NATO’s southern flank, northern Africa and the Middle East. The military representatives were briefed on NATO’s newest initiatives to counter the threat, including the creation of an independent experts’ group to review NATO’s approach to its southern neighbourhood, and the appointment of a new Special Coordinator for Counter-Terrorism. 

Closing the meeting, Major General Serban appealed to Partner Nations to send military personnel to the positions that are made available to them within the NATO command structure. “Since Finland has become a NATO Ally and Sweden will follow shortly, a number of partner positions have become available to other nations, who may want to benefit from the experience and expertise offered by the Alliance. In these dynamic and critical times, as we face new and more sophisticated threats to our security and defence, NATO and its Partners have much to learn from each other and much to contribute to each other. If we work together responsibly, collectively and intelligently, to defend our countries, societies and populations, then we will be even more successful in responding to these challenges”, he concluded. 

From 11 to 15 December 2023, the Familiarization Programme will move to SHAPE for a series of presentations and discussions centred on practical military cooperation.

The Secretary General welcomed Luxembourg’s commitment to increased defence spending and thanked the Prime Minister for his “commitment to have a concrete plan to reach 2% by the Washington Summit,” adding “this is key for a fair burden-sharing on both sides of the Atlantic”. Mr Stoltenberg also welcomed Luxembourg’s participation in NATO’s Innovation Fund and investments in NATO’s high-end capabilities, including the next generation of NATO’s AWACS early warning and surveillance aircraft. “This is one of NATO’s biggest-ever joint capability purchases,” he said and added that Luxembourg is at the forefront of NATO’s technological and innovation agenda.

Luxembourg is one of 20 Allies participating in a coalition aimed to strengthen Ukraine’s air defences. “This will help protect Ukrainian soldiers on the battlefield. And protect people’s lives in Ukrainian cities,” said the Secretary General. Luxembourg also supports Ukraine through NATO’s Comprehensive Assistance Package.

In November, the NATO-Ukraine Council met at the level of Foreign Ministers in Brussels, where Allies agreed an ambitious work programme that will bring Ukraine closer to NATO. “Stepping up and sustaining our support is critical to help Ukraine weather the difficult winter ahead, and to ensure Ukraine prevails as a sovereign independent nation. This is the right thing to do. It is also in our own security interest,” Mr Stoltenberg concluded.

The Deputy Secretary General stressed the importance of the NATO-Georgia political dialogue and practical cooperation, including the NATO-Georgia Commission and the Substantial NATO-Georgia Package designed to strengthen Georgia’s ability to defend itself and advance its preparation for membership. He underscored the importance of Georgia’s continued efforts towards comprehensive reforms. “Allied Leaders adopted a clear message, when they met in Vilnius last summer: to advance its Euro-Atlantic aspirations, Georgia must make progress on reforms, including democratic reforms, and make the best use of the Annual National Programme.”

The Deputy Secretary General expressed his appreciation for Georgia’s substantial contributions to NATO, including its “very significant troop contributions, and for the participation of boarding teams of the Georgian Coast Guard in Operation Sea Guardian.” Mr Geoană also welcomed Georgia’s recent progress on its Euro-Atlantic path. “I want to congratulate you on the European Commission’s recommendation to grant Georgia the status of a candidate country. This is a momentous development,” he said.

Mr Papuashvili was accompanied by the Chairman of the Defence and Security Committee of Georgia’s Parliament, Irakli Beraia, the Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, Nikoloz Samkharadze, and Ketevan Turazashvili, an opposition Member of Parliament from the Political Group “Citizens’.