The Commandant of the NATO Defense College (NDC), Lieutenant General Max A.L.T. Nielsen, paid a short working visit to Kuwait City in support of the NDC-facilitated Modular Short Course – Partners “Gulf”.
On 17 September, the Commandant was invited to participate in a “NATO Talk” at the NATO-ICI Regional Centre. This event allowed for an interactive discussion about the role of the NATO Defense College with a high-level audience, composed of senior Kuwaiti officials and representatives – ambassadors and military attachés – from other NATO nations and partners present in Kuwait. The NATO Talk was attended among others by the Deputy Assistant Foreign Minister for International Cooperation of Kuwait and Ms Aliya Mawani, the Canadian Ambassador to Kuwait.
In an informal setting LGEN Nielsen was interviewed by the moderator, Mr Ahmad Marafi, on the topic of “Adapting defence education to the challenging security environment”.
The NATO Talk covered several questions, such as how the NATO Defense College contributes to the future of NATO, what challenges the College faces and how it engages with NATO partners, and in particular partner countries from the Gulf region.
Encouraging “human interoperability” is one of the most important contributions of the NDC to the development of future leaders for NATO. Critical thinking, an open mind and genuinely listening to different views are the key to analyse and understand complex situations. “We can have opposing views but we should not focus on our differences. Rather, we need to emphasize and work from what we have in common as the basis for mutually beneficial partnerships”, stressed LGEN Nielsen.
In the afternoon, LGEN Nielsen visited the Mubarak al-Abdullah Joint Command and Staff College (MAJCSC), where he met with the Deputy Commandant, Brigadier General Abdallah Al Dosari, and delivered a lecture to Course Members of the Staff College on NATO and the NDC.
NDC Public Affairs Office
(Prepared by Ms Sofia Carvalheiro, PRT C)
Collège de Défense de l'OTAN