Category: Military

Opening the conference, NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană noted that the application of a strong gender focus is fundamental for our security, noting that “we face many threats and challenges, which all have a gender dimension”.  He underscored that “those wearing uniform play an essential role in our security and what they do and say matters, and that integrating a gender perspective makes our military more credible, more effective, and stronger”.

Participants were also welcomed, via video message, by Ms. Irene Fellin, the Secretary General’s Special Representative for Women, Peace and Security (WPS), where she addressed the four priority work strands ahead of the Washington Summit, next year.  The focus will be on NATO’s “direction” on integrating WPS and Human Security into its core tasks; “dialogue” that places a greater emphasis on NATO engagement with diverse actors including civil society and youth  and “disruption” to recognize the multiplying and increasingly complex nature of conflict and instability and the need for NATO to adapt and draw from new perspectives.  The final priority focused on the role of the Alliance in advancing the WPS Agenda through the review and update to its WPS policy.

The first panel featured the Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe, Admiral Sir Keith Blount, the Canadian Military Representative to NATO, Vice Admiral Scott Bishop, the former US Military Representative to NATO, Lieutenant General (retired) E. John Deedrick, and NATO’s Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy, Mrs Carmen Romero.  The speakers focussed on the next steps for the Gender Perspective in the aftermath of the Vilnius Summit.  This high-level panel centred on key ways NATO’s leadership were conducting gender analysis to ensure operations and missions take into account the gender perspective, and how to increase the knowledge of NATO amongst women. Furthermore, they discussed that diverse perspectives provide better operational outcomes and situational awareness. 

The second panel titled “Gender Analysis on the Ukraine Conflict” highlighted how women and children are disproportionately affected by the war in Ukraine. The panellists included Dr Larysa Kompantseva, the Head of the Department of Strategic Communications and Applied Linguistics at the National Academy of the Security Service of Ukraine, Captain Matthew Stoner, Police Training Advisor to the Canadian Police Mission in Ukraine, and Ms Cori Fleser, Non-Resident Senior Fellow with the Transatlantic Security Initiative at the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security. They discussed Russia’s use of disinformation in the Ukrainian conflict, the main lines of work that Gender Advisors (GENADs) can conduct while coordinating with the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and the use of gender-based information in the conflict, noting how this has shaped decision-making and driven security assistance to Ukraine. Additionally, they highlighted that when military operators interact with civilians, the civilians will experience conflict in different ways based on their own experiences, which should be reflected in a gender analysis with an intersectional approach, other factors, such as age.

The conference then moved to annual updates by the NATO Gender Community of Interest:  Lieutenant Colonel Katherine Prudhoe for the NATO International Military Staff (IMS), Lieutenant Colonel Sheri Lattemore for Allied Command Operations (ACO), and Major Lauranne Bureau for Allied Command Transformation (ACT), and Lieutenant Colonel (PhD) Lena P. Kvarving for the Nordic Centre for Gender in Military Operations (NCGM).  These included discussions on updating the NCGP and IMS GENAD terms of reference, doctrine development and the attribution of Centre of Excellence status to the NCGM following the Swedish accession.

The third panel “Conducting Internal Analysis” targeted how different international organisations were carrying out gender analysis.  Ms Apollina Kyle and Ms Patricia Nguyen from the NATO IMS GENAD Office presented the Summary of National Reports, the analysis of NATO’s largest compilation of gender statistics.  They shared the findings of the 2020 Summary of National Reports to the NCGP and discussed how the methodology has been simplified and streamlined.  Ms Terhi Lehtinen, the Head of Division Horizontal Coordination at the EUMS, examined how to better integrate gender analysis and gender equality systematically into conflict analysis to improve the gender responsiveness of the EU’s external actions, including in the Gender Action Plan (GAP III) for 2020 to 2024 and the Operational Guidance on Gender Mainstreaming to the Military Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) 2022. Lastly, Mr Martin Dexborg, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Advisor on Gender Issues, explained the three pillars of their action plan, which includes internal, external programmes, and support to its members. He discussed the OSCE’s Annual Progress Report, which is developed into analytical documents with aims and strategies that last 2-3 years and displays concrete actions in recruitment, both with a focus across the organisation and to the differences among units, to improve reporting and both staff and management awareness.

The day concluded with an update from Lieutenant Colonel Jane Male, Chair of the NCGP Executive Committee and Lieutenant Colonel Françoise Verbanck, Deputy Chair of the NCGP Executive Committee.

The second day of the conference was opened by the US Delegate, Dr Deborah Ozga, who kicked off exchanges on the implementation of the gender analysis from various experts on gender analysis tools.  Dr Louise Olsson from the Peace Research Institute of Oslo presented the Olsson Matrix on Gender in Military Operations and Major Wilco van den Berg from the NCGM to examine their Military Gender Analysis Tool.

During the second panel, representatives from France, Portugal and the United States debated the lessons learned on Gender Needs Analysis.  Ms Inka Lilja and Ms Karin Carlsson from Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance (DCAF) explored the Elise Initiative which looks at enhancing women’s meaningful participation in peacekeeping activities.  Dr Alan Okros discussed the findings of a NATO Research Task Group that looked at how to successfully integrate gender and cultural perspectives in senior officer professional military education programmes.

Finally, Major Lauranne Bureau and Ms Megan Huber from the ACT GENAD Office shared initial findings on the AzuirtOwl innovation project to create a more effective and efficient gender analysis tool to directly support the planning and conduct of operations. 

The final day centred on closed sessions where Allied Nations discussed the way ahead for the NCGP and discussed recommendations to the NATO Military Committee.

Mr. Stoltenberg thanked Secretary Austin for the United States’ strong leadership on key issues, including support to Ukraine, the situation in the Middle East, NATO deterrence and defence, and NATO operations and missions. 

Speaking after the first NATO-Ukraine Council at ministerial level, Mr Stoltenberg said NATO would provide more cold weather clothing, demining capabilities, fuel, and medical equipment “to help Ukraine weather another difficult winter.” Allies discussed Ukraine’s priorities on its path to NATO membership, including long-term interoperability with NATO and defence procurement.

Summing up the outcomes of a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, a group of over 50 countries that support Ukraine, Mr Stoltenberg welcomed announcements by Allies to provide further aid to Ukraine, including F-16 jets and training, as well as air defences, ammunition, and demining equipment. 

“Your fight is our fight, your security is our security and your values are our values” Mr Stoltenberg said alongside President Zelenskyy this morning, adding that “we will stand by Ukraine for as long as it takes.” This was President Zelenskyy’s first visit to NATO headquarters since Russia’s 2022 invasion.

On the sidelines of the Ministerial, Defence Ministers from ten Allied countries signed an agreement that will build the legal framework for any future air defence purchases under the Sky Shield Initiative.

On Thursday (12 October 2023), NATO defence ministers will discuss strengthening the Alliance’s deterrence and defence, military operations in Iraq and Kosovo, and the situation in the Middle East, with Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant set to join via videoconference. Ministers will also discuss damage to critical undersea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea. If the damage to an undersea gas pipeline and a telecommunications cable between Estonia and Finland is proven to be the result of a deliberate attack “it will be met by a united and determined response,” the Secretary General said.

“European Sky Shield Initiative, under Germany’s leadership, shows the value of Allies stepping up to meet NATO’s requirements, while ensuring interoperability and integration,” said NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană. He added: “This initiative therefore, helps translate Allied commitments on defence spending into tangible capabilities available for our collective defence. It demonstrates the clear commitment of European Allies to fair burden sharing as well.”

The European Sky Shield Initiative enables participating nations to jointly procure an air and missile defence system in an efficient and cost-effective way using interoperable, off-the-shelf solutions. This multinational approach offers a flexible and scalable way for nations to strengthen their deterrence and defence. 

The 10 NATO Allies participating in the initiative are: Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands and Slovenia.

The Secretary General told President Zelenskyy that “your fight is our fight, your security is our security, and your values are our values. And we will stand by Ukraine for as long as it takes”. He indicated that “we will further strengthen our relationship and help Ukraine move towards NATO membership”. Allied Defence Ministers will meet with their Ukrainian counterpart, Minister Umerov, in the NATO-Ukraine Council this afternoon to discuss the situation in Ukraine and NATO’s continued support. 

Tomorrow’s (Thursday 12 October 2023) discussions will focus on deterrence and defence. Ministers will take stock of the work underway to resource and exercise the robust defence plans that Allied leaders agreed at the Vilnius Summit. They will also address NATO’s missions and operations, including in Kosovo and in Iraq, and discuss the recent damage to undersea infrastructure between Estonia and Finland. Regarding this incident, the Secretary General said that “the important thing now is to establish what happened and how this could happen. If it is proven to be a deliberate attack on NATO critical infrastructure, then this will be of course serious, but it will also be met by a united and determined response from NATO”. 

Defence Ministers will also discuss the situation in the Middle East in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks by Hamas against NATO partner Israel. Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant will brief NATO Allies on Israel’s response.