On 15 November 2012, the NATO Defense College (NDC) had the honour of hosting Admiral Édouard Guillaud, the French Chief of Defence Staff (CHOD), who delivered the prestigious Eisenhower Lecture. There was a large and attentive audience for the occasion: Faculty, Staff, Senior Course 121 (SC 121) and the eighth NATO Regional Cooperation Course (NRCC 8).
The Eisenhower Lecture, which is delivered by a high-level guest speaker twice a year in the framework of the Senior Course, commemorates the founder of the NATO Defense College, General Dwight D. Eisenhower. As the most important lecture of the Course, it provides expert insight into current NATO and global affairs.
Admiral Guillaud was cordially welcomed on his arrival by NDC Commandant Lieutenant General Arne Bård Dalhaug, with whom he discussed the organization of the College, its mission and activities.
The lecture took place in the Maynard-Thorn Auditorium. Admiral Guillaud made an authoritative and lucid analysis of the current geopolitical environment, focusing on the rapid changes to which NATO must constantly adapt. In this context, the speaker gave a clear statement of France’s perspective on its position inside the Alliance, its role with regard to emerging challenges and security concerns, and the need for active commitment by all Allies. He also gave an extremely cogent explanation of why belonging to NATO is seen by France as essential, offering a vision of how NATO’s future development should involve a stronger Europe and closer bonds with partner countries. An additional point briefly discussed by the Admiral, as an important element to be factored into the mid-term planning perspective, was France’s forthcoming white paper on defence.
The lecture was followed by a lively Q&A period: among the topics the Admiral discussed with Course Members were concerns regarding the current situation in Syria and Mali.
Read more about the Eisenhower Lecture at the French MoD web site: “CEMA : allocution au Collège de l’OTAN lors de la conférence Eisenhower”
Admiral Édouard Guillaud’s Lecture (PDF, French)
LtCol. Alberto Alletto, Chief Public Affairs and Protocol Officer, ITA-A
Collège de Défense de l'OTAN