From 8 to 19 September, the NATO Defense College (NDC) conducted its Modular Short Course (MSC) 147-1 titled “NATO Yesterday and Today”. The Course explored the historical foundations of the Alliance and its ongoing adaptation and transformation to an increasingly complex global security landscape.
Embedded within the curriculum of Senior Course 147, this two-week programme brought together 19 military and civilian officials from 12 Allied nations, offering them a comprehensive overview of NATO’s transformation from the Cold War to the present day.
The first week of the Course offered participants insights into the origins of NATO, along with its structure, decision-making processes, and policies. The second week shifted focus to the contemporary challenges facing the Alliance, including conventional and nuclear deterrence and defence, crisis prevention and management, as well as cooperative security and strategic partnerships.
The Course’s format, blending lectures with committee work, allowed participants to deepen their knowledge of the Alliance and its security imperatives while forging valuable connections. In committee sessions, they collaborated with both MSC and Senior Course participants, facilitating professional exchanges and the development of cross-national perspectives on key NATO priorities.
The Modular Short Course served as a platform for meaningful dialogue and knowledge exchange on the evolving transatlantic bond and on the multifaceted challenges to be faced by NATO today and tomorrow.
NDC Public Affairs Office
(Prepared by Ms Chloé Ketels, FRA C)
Collège de Défense de l'OTAN