After a productive time at Allied Command Transformation and in Ottawa, followed by the first European part of the Field Study in Paris Senior Course 115 arrived in Brussels on 3 November 2009 for a programme of visits: first to the Alliance’s operational headquarters, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE), in Mons, then to the Council of the European Union, and lastly to NATO Headquarters.
At SHAPE, the Headquarters of Allied Command Operations (ACO), one of NATO’s two strategic military commands, Senior Course 115 received an “OPERATIONAL UPDATE” briefing by the Director of the Strategic Direction Centre, COL Patrick ANDREWS, GBR A, who gave an extensive overview of all operations commanded by SHAPE, with the main focus on the Allied operations in Afghanistan – the ISAF mission. He underlined the presence of NATO in other operations, spanning three continents. Emphasis was given to the Integrated Comprehensive Approach to crisis response operations, whose aim is to enhance the unity of missions.
In order to make the best use of our limited time at SHAPE, the question and answer sessions were consolidated into one comprehensive period chaired by MGEN Leonardo Di Marco, ITA A, Deputy Chief of Staff for Support, with a panel consisting of MGEN Frantisek MALENINSKY, Deputy Chief of Staff, Military Cooperation, Colonel Patrick ANDREWS, GBR A, Strategic Direction Centre, Mr Charles KUZELL, USA Civ, Special Advisor to SACEUR (INTAF), and Mr Mike ZUWERKALOW, CAN Civ, J5. In an engaging and wide-ranging exchange, Course Members took advantage of the opportunity to ask the panel some in-depth questions.
In the afternoon, SC 115 visited the Council of the European Union, where Navy Captain Sandro FABIANI LATINI, Chief, NATO Permanent Liaison Team to the EU Military Staff (EUMS), welcomed them to an afternoon of briefings and discussions with experts from the EU on a variety of subjects.
Ms Alda S. REIS, of the Directorate of External and Politico-Military Affairs (DGE VIII), gave a concise overview of “Defence Issues and the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP)”. Since the first European Union operation seven years ago, the spectrum of operations has widened, with engagements in Africa, Asia and Europe. As ESDP was established in order to combine different civilian and military resources, Ms REIS addressed the EU’s relationship with NATO and other international organizations, underlining the strengths of the partnerships adding to the EU’s rapid response capabilities during crisis management. For some operations, partnership with African Union and other third world countries is of great importance in support of ESDP missions.
RADM Fernando LISTA, Deputy Director General of the EU Military Staff, continued with a briefing on the “EU Military Staff and the Military Dimension of the European Security and Defence Policy”. He addressed the complex organization of the European Union, which covers areas such as development, humanitarian assistance, diplomacy, justice and trade, and has a military component with rapid response capabilities. He emphasised the complementary roles played by NATO and the EU in maintaining stability and security, as well as the political and military challenges faced by the partnership in co-ordinating efficient operations. He touched upon Command and Control and post-Lisbon development, and ended with EU crisis response operations.
Mr Kees KLOMPENHOUWER, Civilian Operations Commander, gave a very informative presentation on “Civilian Planning, Conduct Capability and Civilian Crisis Management Operations”, explaining the realities of civil/military co-operation in crisis management. Mr KLOMPENHOUWER outlined civil planning and capabilities as well as civilian crisis management operations, their objectives and tasks, and the achievements of the Civilian Planning and Conduct Capability (CPCC). He provided a summary of the current ESDP mission, pointing out the civilian ESDP areas of possible engagement in crisis management and the challenges ahead. The briefings concluded with a very stimulating Q&A session.
The overall expertise of the speakers and their insight into the complex relationship among EU political, military and defence planning, crisis management and civil-military operations were very much appreciated by the Senior Course Members.
On 4 November 2009, SC 115 received a series of high-level expert briefings on strategic level security policy issues and took part in in-depth discussions during a visit to the NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. After his welcome remarks, LTGEN Jo GODDERIJ, NLD, AF, Director, International Military Staff, outlined some important issues that are currently in NATO’s focus. The highlight of the module on Euro-Atlantic Security was an address by ADM Giampaolo DI PAOLA, ITA N, Chairman of the Military Committee. He briefly addressed the fundamental topics that NATO is dealing with, like the ISAF mission, the new Strategic Concept and the Alliance’s partnerships, among others. This gave Senior Course Members a second opportunity for discussion with the Chairman of the Military Committee, who had been a guest speaker at the NDC’s Anciens’ Seminar in September.
The CMC was followed by BGEN Patrick WOUTERS, BEL AF, Deputy Assistant Director, Plans & Policy, International Military Staff, who provided a comprehensive overview of “Plans and Policy Issues”. During the Q&A session he touched upon the EU Lisbon Treaty and the EU-NATO relationship, the Strategic Concept, strategic co-operation, the NATO mission in Afghanistan and balancing requirements and resources, the Alliance’s capabilities, NATO-Russia relations and many other issues. He also emphasised the importance of a Comprehensive Approach, which can be successful only by involving the whole international community.
The second speaker was Mr Rolf WELBERTS, Director of the Russia and Ukraine Department, IMS, who provided a detailed and perceptive analysis of the current status of security relations with Russia and Ukraine, and the prospects for the future of this NATO partnership. This session generated an important exchange of ideas on emerging Alliance challenges and relationships.
LTGEN GODDERIJ chaired the panel discussion that concluded the day at NATO HQ with a frank, in-depth discussion. In a wide-ranging question and answer session that challenged Course Members to think beyond traditional norms, LTGEN GODDERIJ addressed the major challenges of NATO’s ongoing operations as well as transformation, partnerships, and the Comprehensive Approach.
The final visit of Senior Course 115’s Fall Field Study was to Kiev, Ukraine, on Friday, 5 November 2009, where they were hosted by the National Defence University/ Academy of Ukraine. SC Members were warmly welcomed by GEN Vitaliy HryhorovychRADETSKIY, (UKR A), Commandant of the National Defense Academy. In his speech he emphasised the good relationship that the Academy had enjoyed with the NATO Defense College for almost 10 years now, and expressed his gratitude for the College’s contribution to the education of higher ranking officers of the Ukraine Armed Forces during the annual NATO week in Kiev.
The first of the series of briefings was given by COL MASLOVSKY, Deputy Chief of the Department of Defence Planning, Ministry of Defence, who examined the current state of Ukrainian Armed Forces Development. His very thorough presentation of the present command and control system, the structure of the armed forces and their contribution to UN, NATO and EU peace support operations, gave Senior Course Members an overall picture of the efforts being made to transform the military organization and adapt it to a new security environment. The next briefing, by Prof. V’yacheslav KOSEVTSOV, representative of the National Defence Academy, outlined Ukrainian national security and defense strategy, touching upon the problems that Ukraine encounters in providing military security to her citizens. An excellent continuation of the two briefings was provided by the representative of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Ambassador Boris ZAHARCHUCK, Deputy Chief of the NATO Department. He extensively briefed the audience on “Foreign Policy Priorities” adopted since the first years of Ukraine independence in 1991 and on today’s pursuit of European Union and NATO membership. Many efforts are being made by Ukraine in order to become a fully fledged member of both organizations. In the last briefing, delivered by a representative of the Ministry of Defence, LTCOL Hemnadiy Kovalenko GENNADIY, Chief of the Detachment of Military Policy and Strategic Planning, Ukraine’s cooperation with NATO and the European Union was analysed. All the different aspects of Ukrainian defence and security policy were discussed with Senior Course Members during very lively and frank Q&A sessions.
In his closing remarks, LTGEN General LOESER, Commandant of the NDC, recognised the significant efforts that had been invested into attaining the objective of Ukraine’s full membership of the Alliance. He also stressed how fruitful the relationship between the NATO Defense College and the Ukrainian National Defense Academy had become over the years. GEN Radetskiy and LTGEN Loeser agreed that the 10 th International Kiev Week, which will take place in February 2010, is the result of successful cooperation between the two academic institutions. The Kiev week, as it is called at the NDC, or the NATO Week, as it is called by the NDA, supports the increasingly important NATO partnership with Ukraine, promotes a better acquaintance with NATO, and provides a forum for discussion of the challenges facing the Atlantic Alliance and its partners in today’s security environment.
The Fall Field Study successfully fulfilled its overall objectives. Upon their return to Rome, Senior Course Members will follow the next Study Period of the NDC curriculum, with lectures on Global Security Challenges.
NDC Public Affairs Office
(Prepared by Col. Daria DANIELS SKODNIK, SVN)
NATO Defense College