Generals, Flag Officers and Ambassadors' Course for Partners, GFOAC-P (former SERC)

About

The Generals, Flag Officers and Ambassadors' Course for Partners (GFOAC-P), previously known as the Senior Executive Regional Conference, was established in September 2012. It is a one-week course tailored to high-level military and civilian officials from NATO and its partner countries across the Middle East-North Africa (MENA) region.

Aim

The aim of this intensive week of study is to:

• Promote mutual understanding on issues related to the regions concerned, allowing a select group of senior professionals to meet in an open framework.
• Provide a high-level forum for the exchange of views on strategic matters involving the Alliance and these regions.
• Contribute to enhancing knowledge of the Alliance and its role in serving common security interests.

What the GFOAC-P does

The GFOAC-P offers a platform for decision-makers, influential leaders, and prominent thinkers from NATO, its Southern and Regional partnerships (Mediterranean Dialogue and Istanbul Cooperation Initiative), as well as other Global Partners such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. Experts and prominent speakers address different topics each day, covering major geopolitical changes affecting NATO and its partners. The course facilitates discussions on topics like NATO’s Projecting Stability agenda towards the MENA region, the Syrian crisis and its regional ramifications, NATO and Gulf Security, the fight against terrorism and de-radicalization, and the Crisis in Libya and its regional implications. Following presentations by invited experts, discussions continue over lunch, fostering further perspectives on the topics under discussion.

Who can attend

Participants include representatives from NATO member states and their partners in the Mediterranean and the Gulf, as well as participants from other Global Partners. The course welcomes high-level military and civilian officials from NATO and its partner countries across the Middle East-North Africa (MENA) region. Additionally, participation is open to the seven Mediterranean Dialogue members (Mauritania, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Israel, and Jordan), the four Istanbul Cooperation Initiative members (Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and the UAE), and participants on a regular basis from Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman, and Pakistan. This broad panel is further complemented by the participation of representatives from regional organizations like the Arab League.