METT – Russian Week 2011

From 15th to 18th November, in accordance with the NATO-Russia Council Work Plan for 2011, a delegation from the Russian General Staff Academy (GSA) gave a number of briefings and participated in various round table discussions at the NATO Defense College (NDC). The Russian delegation was led by Major General Oleg Leontievich MAKAREVICH.

This annual event, involving what is known as a Mobile Education and Training Team (METT), enables Russian delegates to acquire first-hand knowledge of the College’s activities and strategic-level education. The specific objective of such visits is “to exchange views on mutual strategic security issues, in order to broaden military-to-military cooperation with an emphasis on discussing the potential for practical cooperation”. Such a setting provides an excellent opportunity to improve mutual understanding and enhance knowledge of issues such as respective defence and security policies, and the common interests of NATO and Russia. The active involvement of the NDC, as the Alliance’s leading educational institute, underlines the importance of such a partnership.

Participants were warmly welcomed by the NDC Commandant, Lieutenant General Arne Bård DALHAUG. The Russian delegation gave a series of presentations covering Russian perspectives on security cooperation and challenges, and familiarized NATO officers (mainly experts on NATO-Russian relations) with Russian thinking on strategic and operational issues. Topics included Russia’s views on the European security architecture reform; 20 years of NATO-Russian relations, with a focus on results, problems and future cooperation; Russia’s approach to combatting terrorism; and the use of military force against terrorists to ensure national security. Participation in the final day of the visit was extended to Senior Course 119, enabling Course Members to attend lectures and a Q&A session with Russian speakers.

Amongst the participants were the Director of the NATO IMS Cooperation and Regional Security Division, Major General Carlos BRANCO; his Deputy Director, Commodore Emil EFTIMOV; Major General Dr Sandor FUCSKU, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Military Cooperation Division at SHAPE; and Major General Dr Laszlo MAKK, Head of the NATO Military Liaison Mission in Moscow. Dr Andrew MONAGHAN of the NDC’s Research Division moderated the week’s sessions and the Dean of the College, Dr Richard D. HOOKER, gave the concluding remarks at the closing ceremony.

The NDC’s Russian Week reflects the increasing cooperation between NATO and Russia on security and defence issues. The exchange of METTs, which appears to be of mutual benefit for future cooperation, was first organized in 2006 but suffered a number of cancellations and delays in subsequent years. Its resumption in 2010 bodes well for further development of this extremely valuable channel of communication. At all editions of the event to date, the NDC has always been chosen to host the Russian delegations, and to organize and prepare all logistic aspects of the meetings and related activities in Rome.

NDC Public Affairs Office
(Prepared by Ms Kyla Cham, CAN C)