After beginning its first Field Study period with the Italian Day, on 21st March Senior Course 120 visited France. Course Members thus spent successive days in the two cities to which the NATO Defense College owes so much – Rome and Paris. From 1951 until its move to Rome in 1966 the College was actually in Paris, in the Artillery Wing of the prestigious École Militaire. It was here, in a setting steeped in military tradition, that current Course Members attended their first, wide-ranging information session on Security and Defense Policy.
Rear Admiral Pascal Ausseur, Chief of the International Organizational Division, French Joint Staff, opened the morning session. He provided a very clear and comprehensive overview of French defence policy and priorities, including the challenges to be addressed and an outline of ongoing cooperation with the United Kingdom and Germany. The speaker underlined the importance of France’s relations with the EU and NATO – the first as a fundamental politico-military partner, the second with particular reference to the need to ensure awareness and management of possible new threats. In this respect, the upcoming Chicago Summit is seen as extremely relevant.
The second presentation was delivered by Brigadier General Patrick Brethous, Chief of Operations at the Joint Plans and Operations Centre, Paris. He gave a valuable overview of the significant current operational commitments of French forces, underlining the importance of integration between military and civilian efforts.
The last speaker of the morning was Mr Maxime Lefebvre, Director of International Relations at the École Nationale d’Administration. He gave a very interesting talk on French foreign policy and the rationale that underpins it, stressing the key role France is playing following its return to NATO’s integrated military structure. The speaker also offered an expert appraisal of the changes in French foreign policy introduced by President Sarkozy, underlining the importance of the relationship with “l’Occident”.
The three presentations were followed by a Q & A session, during which Course Members took full advantage of the opportunity to further explore the issues raised by the speakers.
The visit to France concluded with a working lunch generously hosted by Brig. Gen. Philippe Gunet, Joint Staff Director of Military Cooperation with Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Latin America. In the historic surroundings of the Salons du Governeur Militaire de Paris at the Hôtel National des Invalides, NDC Staff and Course Members had the opportunity to exchange opinions and perspectives with their French colleagues, many of them NDC Anciens.
More about the Field Study:
Collège de Défense de l'OTAN 
