Belgrade, Serbia was the final destination of the third Field Study for Senior Course 143. This Field Study incorporates visits to NATO Allies and a partner nation. Following the visit to North Macedonia, the NATO Defense College delegation continued its journey through the Western Balkans, heading to Serbia.
The visit took place at the University of Defense of Serbia where Course Members discussed Serbia’s positions on defence and the security challenges impacting the country with national experts.
The programme opened with remarks from the Assistant Minister for Defence Policy, Mr Predrag Bandić, and three panel sessions with representatives from the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the University of Defence of the Ministry of Defence.
The briefings emphasized Serbia’s focus on fostering international and regional cooperation to preserve peace and security, particularly within the Balkan region – a significant priority for NATO, as well in the region.
Discussions addressed Serbia’s longstanding cooperation with NATO through the Partnership for Peace Programme, stressing that Serbia is a reliable partner of NATO. They also addressed Serbia’s active involvement in the European Union’s Common Security and Defence Policy, and the development of the operational capabilities of the Serbian Armed Forces, and deployment of armed forces units abroad.
The briefings further outlined Serbia’s priorities on foreign policy and how the emerging security challenges are impacting Serbia and the Balkans’ region.
During the visit, the NDC Commandant, Lieutenant General Max A.L.T. Nielsen, attended bilateral meetings with the Serbia’s Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces, General Milan Mojsilović; the University of Defence Rector Brigadier General Professor Boban Đorović, PhD; and Mr Predrag Bandić. During the meetings, the Commandant expressed gratitude for Serbia’s contributions to the College, exemplified by the frequent assignment of officers to attend the NDC courses. They explored ways of strengthening cooperation between Serbia and the NDC. The Commandant emphasized that the visit to Belgrade presented a unique opportunity for Senior Course 143 to better understand Serbia’s perspective on defence and security, and the country’s neutrality posture.
The core objective of Field Study trips is to gain a deeper understanding of various national perspectives, an essential asset to practice dialogue and consensus-building between both Allies and partners. These skills are a crucial step towards a more cohesive future, in which by working together, we are able to tackle the emerging global challenges, and to preserve peace and security, the Commandant highlighted.
The visit to Serbia completed the third Field Study journey. Over a span of nearly two weeks, Senior Course 143 had the opportunity to visit a Nordic Ally (Denmark), a frontline Ally (Slovakia), a Western Balkan Ally (North Macedonia), and a Partner country (Serbia). This programme provided invaluable insights into the diverse perspectives and strategies of nations from various regions, showcasing their individual contributions to bolstering the Alliance’s security.
NDC Public Affairs Office
( Prepared by Ms Sofia Carvalheiro, PRT C)
Collège de Défense de l'OTAN