Category: NATO

As the field of military medicine continues to evolve with technology playing a pivotal role in enhancing operational capabilities, the work of the Scientific Committee, under the leadership of Surgeon Commander Stuart A. G. Roberts (UK) as Chair and Major Paul Dhillon (CAN) as Vice-Chair, sets a high standard in the field of military medicine. The recent Mid-Winter meeting of CIOMR marked a significant milestone, with the committee presenting and leading sessions focused on the integration of telemetry, artificial intelligence (AI), and ‘big data’ in military medicine.

The Scientific Committee’s work emphasized the transformative potential of these technologies in streamlining medical logistics, improving patient care, and facilitating real-time decision-making in the field. “The journey of integrating telemetry, AI, and big data into military medicine is just beginning, and the insights gained from this meeting will undoubtedly pave the way for further advancements. As we move forward, the focus will remain on harnessing these technologies to enhance the effectiveness, efficiency, and reach of military medical services, ultimately saving lives and improving the well-being of those who serve”, noted Surgeon Commander Roberts in his remarks.

The event, which for the first time saw Australia participating remotely, also brought together junior medical officers from the UK, USA, and France, through the CIOMR Junior Medical Reserve Officer Committee, offering a unique platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration. The participation of international partners such as Australia highlighted the global dimension of the committee’s efforts. This collaborative approach not only enriches the pool of knowledge and expertise but also ensures that the benefits of technological advancements in military medicine are shared widely across the NATO alliance and its partners.

The sessions underscored the committee’s commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technologies to enhance medical support in military operations. A highlight of the meeting was the augmented reality (AR) demonstration by the Kognitiv Spark Team, which showcased the potential of AR in transforming military medical training and field operations. The AR round robin featured three different scenarios centred on:

• wound care – ability to guide field medics through complex wound care procedures in real-time, enhancing the precision and effectiveness of battlefield medical interventions;
• remote care – facilitation of remote medical consultations, allowing specialists to provide guidance and support to medics in remote or inaccessible locations;
• and surgery – glimpse into the future of military surgery, where AR can assist medics in performing intricate procedures with augmented precision and information.

These demonstrations not only highlighted the practical applications of AR in military medicine but also underscored the importance of immersive technologies in training and operational support.

Admiral Bauer said that we face the most dangerous world in decades as the rule-based international order is under unimaginable threat. The Admiral stipulated that the prevention of war should be a whole-of-society event, “if we prepare, we ramp up our resilience, we ramp up our deterrence, and we minimise the chance of an adversary ever attempting to start conflict”. He added that NATO has undergone unprecedented change at an unprecedented pace. A prime example is the Finnish and soon-to-be Swedish accession to the Alliance, which bolsters security on NATO’s Northern Flank.

Admiral Bauer noted that Exercise Steadfast Defender is now underway, the largest NATO exercise in decades, with approximately 90.000 forces from all 31 Allies and Sweden, aimed at testing the new defence plans of the Alliance. He emphasized that Steadfast Defender is one of many steps NATO is taking to ensure that the new defence plans are fully executable.
In his speech, Admiral Bauer also underlined the importance of Article 3 of the Washington Treaty, that every Ally must be able to defend itself. He said Article 5 can only be effective if Article 3 is firmly in place.

As NATO turns 75 this year, Admiral Bauer highlighted that throughout its history NATO has demonstrated an unparalleled ability to unite, adapt and protect. Underscoring that in this new era of collective defence, that ability is crucial: “At a time when global security threats are multiplying and our values are under attack, we need a shield against aggression more than ever”, he added.

Hosted by the Norwegian Atlantic Committee, the Leangkollen Security Conference brings together international and Norwegian researchers and senior officials to address defence, foreign, and security policy issues. The headline of this year’s conference was “NATO 75, Past, Present and Future.”

While in Olso, Admiral Rob Bauer also met with the Norwegian Minister of Defence, Bjørn Arild Gram and Norwegian military leadership. Admiral Bauer highlighted the important role Norway is playing in the North and the European High North as well as its contributions to reinforcing NATO’s Nordic defences. Next month, Norway will be hosting exercise Nordic Response, a part of Steadfast Defender 24, gathering over 20,000 soldiers from at least 14 countries, to train in northern Norway, Sweden and Finland, on land, in the air and at sea.

In his introductory remarks, the NATO Assistant Secretary General for Innovation, Hybrid and Cyber, David van Weel, stated: “Looking ahead, governments will have to manage increasingly frequent environmental hazards, cascading climate risks, while also managing the most ambitious energy transition since the Industrial Revolution. We need to ask ourselves what this means for Allied security in the short term, while also looking to longer-term defence planning, and identifying measures that we should be putting in place to manage the risks alongside other defence priorities.”

The roundtable aimed to raise awareness of different aspects of NATO’s work on climate change and security, to inform ongoing implementation of its Climate Change and Security agenda, as well as to look ahead to the 2024 Washington Summit. Themes covered included latest climate change trends, operational challenges associated with changing environmental conditions, the available adaptation and mitigation measures, and partnerships.

The roundtable included speakers from the United Nations Department of Peace Operations, the European External Action Service, the World Meteorological Organization, the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, the Climate Change and Security Centre of Excellence, the UK Ministry of Defence, the Canadian Department of National Defence, the Republic of Iraq, the Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies, the German Council on Foreign Relations and the Centre for Russia Europe Asia Studies, as well as speakers from industry including BAE Systems, Saab AB.

As part of its outreach efforts, NATO engages with partner countries, other organisations, civil society, academia and industry on climate change and security issues. The roundtable adds to these ongoing engagements, underlining the value of NATO and other actors working together to meet the challenge of a changing climate. The roundtable builds on the Secretary General’s annual High-Level Dialogue on Climate Change and Security, last held at the 2023 NATO Summit in Vilnius.

Subject matter expertise was provided by Associate Professor (Assoc. Prof.) Aleksandar Grizhev of the Military Academy in Skopje; Dr Adelina Hasani of the Kosovar Centre for Security Studies (KCSS); Dr Elisabeth Schleicher, Staff Officer Gender Advisor (SO GENAD) for NATO’s Kosovo Force (KFOR); and Captain Tanja Katnić, Gender Advisor to the Chief of Defence of the Montenegrin Armed Forces.

Assoc. Prof. Grizhev opened the session by highlighting the Balkans’ complexity, emphasising its rich history, cultural heritage and ethnic diversity. He underlined existing tensions in Balkan countries: tensions between cultural norms, values, beliefs, traditions and stereotypes versus Western values, as well as conflict between political and ethnic tensions versus political and economic stability. Furthermore, he emphasised the varying degrees of trust and cooperation among countries in the region, as well as the disparities in the influence and participation of civil society. He stated that these tensions could impede the progress of WPS in the region.

Drawing on a variety of quantitative sources, Assoc. Prof. Grizhev outlined the progress towards gender equality in the Western Balkans. For example, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro and North Macedonia all have active National Action Plans (NAPs) on WPS. As a result, the representation of women in the defence system has improved significantly. For example, women made up 14.98% of the Albanian Armed Forces in 2023. This is followed by Montenegro (10.77%), North Macedonia (10.66%), Serbia (10.59%), and Bosnia and Herzegovina (8.2%).

Assoc. Prof. Grizhev concluded his presentation by discussing regional cooperation initiatives on WPS. He introduced the joint EU, Regional Cooperation Council and United Nations Development Project programme “Strengthening of Regional Cooperation on Gender Mainstreaming in Security Sector Reform in the Western Balkans” with Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia. Over the last ten years, this project has aimed to combat gender-based discrimination, enhance gender-responsive leadership, and strengthen mechanisms for gender equality, such as introducing focal points within the Ministries of Defence and Armed Forces. He explained that it addresses the root causes of gender inequality in the military by raising awareness through education and training. Assoc. Prof. Grizhev cited the project’s results and outcomes, which include regional networking and cooperation on WPS, as well as increased security in the Western Balkans through confidence building and the sharing of knowledge, information and best practices.

Despite the regional progress made over the last decade, Assoc. Prof. Grizhev explained that challenges persist. Political tensions and the legacy of conflict continue to impede regional cooperation, and he argued that overcoming stereotypes is critical to raising awareness of WPS. Furthermore, it is difficult to monitor challenges and progress due to the lack of comprehensive data on gender-specific issues. Finally, he noted that capacity-building initiatives are still limited, largely because of insufficient funding.

Dr Hasani took the floor next, explaining how the breakup of Yugoslavia and subsequent conflicts have had a significant influence on the contemporary situation of women and girls in the Balkans. The war resulted in widespread human rights violations, as well as the weaponisation of violence and conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) against women. She stressed that the rise of gender-based violence is an unfortunate manifestation of these wartime dynamics in the post-war period. Dr Hasani stated that as a result, Kosovo’s NAP includes comprehensive CRSV-related actions as well as a gender-sensitive approach to the country’s post-conflict recovery process for CRSV survivors. In addition, she noted that female activists contribute significantly to regional peace and security by demanding justice and challenging established social norms.

Dr Hasani continued by discussing the KCSS’s Security Sector Reform project in Kosovo, which focuses on the Kosovo Police and the Security Forces. Although the number of women working in the security sector has increased, their research found that they do not assume leadership positions. She highlighted that the security sector is still widely seen as male-dominated, contributing to women’s reluctance in reporting instances of bullying, harassment, and discrimination, demonstrating how patriarchal norms continue to shape their behaviour. Consequently, Dr Hasani stressed that while women’s increased participation in public and social life should remain a priority, it is also important to increase their responsibility in the security sector through managerial and decision-making roles.

Next, Dr Schleicher discussed the GENAD’s role in NATO’s KFOR. She noted that the GENAD reports directly to the KFOR commander, allowing for the integration of the Gender Perspective at the highest strategic level. Dr Schleicher emphasised the KFOR GENAD’s outward focus and described the office’s three core tasks:

1. Provide advice and support to the commander.
2. Contribute to the commander’s situational awareness and understanding of the varied security needs on the ground by monitoring the operational picture.
3. Improve operational effectiveness by assisting Gender Focal Points (GFPs) and staff branches. Furthermore, the GENAD carefully coordinates all activities with Kosovo’s non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and international organisations (IOs).

Dr Schleicher explained why the Gender Perspective is vital for KFOR, referring to KFOR’s mandate, UNSCR 1244. Based on UNSCR 1244, KFOR “provides a safe and secure environment. In order to provide a safe and secure environment, we need to consider the different security needs of the various groups in society. She clarified that this includes not just women, men, boys, and girls, but also different age or ethnic groups. A comprehensive approach based on the Gender Perspective provides access to new and more information, resulting in better-informed planning and decision-making processes.

Dr. Schleicher concluded her presentation by underscoring several internal and external projects conducted by the KFOR GENAD. Internally, she highlighted gender awareness training for troops, as well as monthly reports and workshops on the Gender Perspective. Externally, she noted the Domestic Violence Forum in June 2023, which was organised in close coordination with various Kosovan NGOs and IOs such as EULEX and the OSCE. This aimed to develop the capacities of the numerous actors involved in the fight against domestic violence. She also mentioned their collaboration with the University of Pristina, including a WPS Conference in March 2023, which aimed to strengthen the youth and empower female students. The establishment of Victim-Centred Interview Rooms has also provided a safe venue for victims of gender-based violence to share their experience and seek justice. Dr. Schleicher underlined the importance of locally engaged projects and empowering civil society to take the lead.

Captain Katnić concluded the session by sharing Montenegro’s experience with security sector reforms, which began with the country’s independence in 2006. She underlined that Gender, as one of the reform segments, has had an important role in creating a more efficient and sustainable system. She pointed out that although there is a solid national normative framework for the implementation of the gender perspective, women remain underrepresented. However, significant progress has been made, and women now account for 11.64% of the Montenegrin Armed Forces, compared to 3.3% in 2012.

Captain Katnić commended the aforementioned regional cooperation project for security sector reform, which has facilitated the implementation of the gender perspective within the Armed Forces, introducing gender mechanisms such as advisors, coordinators, trainers and GFPs, as well as increased representation of women in the Armed Forces and peacekeeping operations. She underlined the importance of the two regional studies on the position of the women in the Armed Forces of the Western Balkan countries (first published in 2014, the second in 2021)  and a regional handbook, noting that the findings and recommendations have helped in defining and implementing follow-up activities. Captain Katnić then explained that the Ministries of Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia signed a Joint Ministerial Declaration in December 2021, pledging their commitment to gender-responsive security in the Western Balkans. 

The WPS agenda has made significant progress in the Balkans since Yugoslavia’s disintegration. This is demonstrated by increased female involvement in the security sector, availability of training modules, the implementation of gender advisors, the adoption of NAPs, and considerable efforts at regional cooperation on WPS. However, difficulties remain, including cultural stereotypes, a lack of women in leadership roles, and the persistence of gender-based harassment and discrimination. Continued trust building and knowledge sharing among individuals and institutions at all levels of society is critical for deconstructing social norms and advancing WPS in the region.

The Secretary General commended the troops for their service, noting that Special Operations Forces “are vital to any military operation. And therefore, so important for the whole NATO Alliance.” He also paid tribute to those who have fallen in the line of duty. 

Mr Stoltenberg highlighted that Allies’ increased defence spending will not only result in boosting national capabilities, but will also facilitate more cooperation in NATO. Pointing to the increasingly global nature of security threats and challenges, the Secretary General stressed “NATO is responding because we need to do that together.” He underlined that together, NATO Allies make up half the world’s economic and military might, adding: “NATO is a good deal for all Allies… NATO is a good deal for the United States.”

The visit to SOCOM wraps up a week of engagements in the U.S. by Mr Stoltenberg.

On Wednesday, at the Lockheed Martin facility in Troy, Alabama, the Secretary General emphasised NATO’s crucial role in creating a vast market for defence sales and production. Earlier that day at the Heritage Foundation in Washington D.C, he outlined that NATO Allies must ensure robust deterrence, prepare for enduring competition with China, and invest more in defence to keep societies safe and free. 

On Tuesday, Mr Stoltenberg met with US Congressional leaders and highlighted that a strong NATO is in the strategic interest of the United States, and support for Ukraine remains decisive for Ukraine’s survival and Europe’s stability. “Through NATO, the U.S.has more friends and allies than any other power,” he said.

On Monday, the Secretary General had discussions with senior U.S. officials, and at a press conference with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, he stressed that “for a tiny fraction of annual defence spending, the United States has helped Ukraine destroy a major part of Russia’s combat capacity, without placing a single American soldier in harm’s way.”  He also met with Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan to discuss continuing the strong support for Ukraine, as well as preparations for NATO’s Summit in Washington this July.

“Bosnia and Herzegovina is a long-standing and close NATO partner,” Deputy Secretary General Geoană said. “What happens in Bosnia and Herzegovina matters for the security in the Western Balkans and what happens in the Western Balkans matters for all of us in Europe. NATO strongly supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina,” he added.

The Deputy Secretary General underscored NATO’s steadfast commitment to support the country’s ongoing “reform efforts, including through our defence capacity-building package to help strengthen Bosnia and Herzegovina’s capabilities, in areas like crisis management, cyber defence, and countering terrorism. These reforms make Bosnia and Herzegovina more resilient and secure, and offer a brighter future for all of the country’s citizens, as you continue on your Euro-Atlantic path.” He also praised Bosnia and Herzegovina for its contributions to Euro-Atlantic security and emphasised the deepening political dialogue between NATO and Bosnia and Herzegovina, as demonstrated by the visit of NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg last November. 

Deputy Secretary General Geoană pointed out: “It’s your decision, how fast and where you want to go, but there is absolutely no other truth that all our nations that joined the Euro-Atlantic family in the last 25 years since NATO and EU have enlarged, are better off, are more prosperous, are more secure, are more self-confident, and give to our citizens better lives… We hope to continue our partnership with your very important nation all the way.”

During the two-day visit, the NATO Deputy Secretary General, NATO Ambassadors, and invitee Sweden are meeting members of the Presidency, the Chairwoman of the Council of Ministers, the Foreign and Defence Ministers, and representatives of the Collegium of the Parliamentary Assembly. 
They will also met representatives of a think tank and students from universities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and they will visit the Rajlovac military base.

They will conclude their visit with meetings with the Commander of the NATO Headquarters in Sarajevo, the Commander of the European Union Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the High Representative, and the heads of the EU and OSCE missions to Bosnia and Herzegovina. NATO’s Headquarters in Sarajevo helps to coordinate support to the EU-led Operation Althea, under the Berlin Plus arrangements, to help maintain a safe and secure environment for all communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina.