From 2 to 6 December 2024, Senior Course 145 participated in the Negotiation, Mediation and Decision-Making Exercise (NMDX), an international crisis management simulation that challenged these future leaders’ ability to navigate complex geopolitical scenarios and make critical decisions under pressure.
Designed to test the Course Members’ ability to build consensus and make decisions within a multinational environment, this five-day exercise also provided comprehensive insights into NATO’s international crisis management framework and the multilateral politico-military decision-making process.
Playing key roles within NATO’s senior committees such as North Atlantic Council, the Political Committee, the Military Committee and the Operations Policy Committee, participants were tasked with responding to a UN Security Council mandate for a NATO-led crisis response operation in a simulated, fictitious non-NATO country. They were then confronted with the complexities of decision-making and consensus-building in a multinational environment.
To guide them through this exercise, Course Members were mentored by experts including Ambassador (Ret.) Tacan Ildem, Lieutenant General (Ret.) Jan Broeks, Lieutenant General (Ret.) Antonio Li Gobbi, Lieutenant General (Ret.) Michel Yakovleff, and Mr Ted Whiteside. With their extensive experience in diplomacy, military strategy, and international relations, these mentors provided invaluable insights and real-world perspectives.
NDC Public Affairs Office
(Prepared by Ms Chloé Ketels, FRA C)
NATO Defense College