On 12 and 13 March 2025, Senior Course 146 Course Members participated in the International Negotiations and Multilateral Simulation Exercise (MSX), a two-day exercise designed to introduce them to strategic-level negotiation and equip them with the skills necessary to navigate consensus-building in international organizations.
Inspired by the “Model Diplomacy” simulation programme developed by the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), the MSX simulates a real-life historical UN Security Council (UNSC) crisis management scenario in which participants step into the roles of decision-makers on the Council.
Participants first attended preparatory lectures providing them with the fundamentals of international negotiations, both in terms of principles and strategies. Delivered by experts in mediation and negotiation in complex international settings, Dr Aurélien Colson (ESSEC) and Ms Kate Jones (UK Mission to the UN), these lectures allowed Course Members to gain key insights into the security dimension of international negotiations, the techniques and practical approaches for achieving multilateral consensus, the critical factors influencing success or failure, and the significant impact of veto power.
Assigned to specific roles such as country representative, Council President or Secretary General, participants engaged in dynamic deliberations and exchanges within their designated working groups. This immersive experience provided a practical and impactful understanding of the challenges of multilateral decision-making.
NDC Public Affairs Office
(Prepared by Ms Chloé Ketels, FRA C)
Collège de Défense de l'OTAN