On 24 April 2025, the NATO Defense College (NDC) celebrated the graduation of the 33rd cohort of the NATO Regional Cooperation Course (NRCC). The Graduation Ceremony marked the conclusion of the 10-week curriculum, bringing together Ambassadors to Italy, national authorities, defence attachés, families of the Course Members, and NDC staff.
Held biannually, the NRCC serves as NATO’s primary educational initiative aimed at strengthening its ties with partner countries from the Mediterranean Dialogue (MD), the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI), and from the broader Middle East. Bringing together 36 Course Members from 21 NATO and partner Nations, this Course offers participants a unique platform to build closer ties and foster mutual understanding in addressing shared security challenges.
The NDC Commandant, Lieutenant General Max A.L.T. Nielsen, opened the ceremony by emphasizing the diversity of this NRCC cohort as a key strength of NATO’s strategic partnership frameworks. He stressed the importance of the connections forged by Course Members with their peers and NDC Faculty over the duration of the Course, which will be enduring assets in their future positions. As NDC graduates now become “ambassadors for the NATO Defense College”, LGEN Nielsen encouraged the new graduates to feel empowered by the skills they developed during the Course and to remain engaged with the NDC.
The keynote speaker, Ambassador Pasquale Ferrara, Director General for Political and Security Affairs at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, expressed deep appreciation for the crucial role played by the NDC in shaping the Alliance’s strategic thinking and fostering a shared security culture among Allies and partners. As Europe faces a pivotal moment, strengthening the European pillar within NATO and engaging with partners is essential, he stated, to building resilience in the face of current threats.
Prior of to the conferment of diplomas, NRCC 33 Course President Commodore Mohamed Sfaxi addressed his peers, highlighting the significant knowledge gained through the lectures, discussions and Field Studies, and expressed gratitude to the NDC leadership and staff: “We will be back home with new skills; improved strategic thinking and critical analysis; improved decision-making and leadership; and a deeper understanding of each other’s perspectives.”
The graduation of the 33rd NRCC marks another successful chapter in the NDC’s mission to promote dialogue and collaboration, deepening ties and enhancing cooperation between NATO and its partners to address the evolving global security landscape.
NDC Public Affairs Office
(Prepared by Ms Britt Melinga, NLD C)
NATO Defense College