On May 9, having concluded its visits to US-based institutions with a very successful day at the UN in New York, Senior Course 120 (SC 120) began the European part of its Transatlantic Field Study in Belgium. This was another very busy day, with visits to the Belgian Defence Staff Headquarters in Brussels and the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Mons.
The group was welcomed to the Belgian Defence Staff HQ by Colonel Philippe DOHET-ERALY, who introduced the morning’s agenda with its focus on Belgium’s defence and foreign policy priorities.
The visit continued with a briefing on Belgian foreign policy by Ambassador Paul HUYNEN, Security Policy Director at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. His well contextualized analysis examined the national characteristics of the Belgians and the historical background to the salient features of the country’s foreign policy, from its neutrality after the two World Wars to current priorities and trends.
Lieutenant Colonel Tom WOUTERS, Assistant Chief of Staff Strategy with responsibility for national relationship management, then briefed the group on Belgian defence policy. In a comprehensive presentation, the speaker focused on features of Belgian national identity, Government agreements and the engagement of the Belgian Armed Forces in strategic missions.
The next speaker was Lieutenant Colonel Geert LEEMAN, Chief Strategic Plans Section, Strategic Department, who offered a Belgian perspective on multinational programmes. Immediately afterwards, Commander FLAMANT gave a talk on Belgium-Netherlands naval cooperation as a case study. The concluding panel discussion, involving all the speakers, gave Course Members an opportunity to raise a variety of questions.
SC 120 then travelled to Mons for its visit to SHAPE – home to Allied Command Operations (ACO), one of NATO’s strategic military commands. Here the group was briefed on current NATO operations such as ISAF and Kosovo, as well as the operational impact of NATO’s new structure. Proceedings concluded with a comprehensive Q&A session chaired by General Manfred LANGE (DEU F), SHAPE’s Chief of Staff.
Expressing appreciation for a most productive first day in Belgium, NATO Defense College Dean Dr Richard J. Hooker offered the closing remarks and presented General LANGE with a copy of the Chronicle Book celebrating the recent historic landmark of the College’s first 60 years.
More about the Field Study:
Collège de Défense de l'OTAN 