The Field Study programme of Senior Course 121 continued with a visit to London, where the group arrived on 27 September and was welcomed by Mr Tom McKane, Director General for Security Policy at the Ministry of Defence.
The following day the visit continued with a series of briefings on strategic-level security and defence issues. The first was offered by Mr Steve McCarthy, Director of International Security Policy at the Ministry of Defence. He outlined the main characteristics of British defence and security policy, highlighting the country’s integrated approach to security. Mr McCarthy also emphasized the role of NATO as a cornerstone of the activity undertaken by the Ministry of Defence, dwelling on the importance of maintaining close relations with international organizations, allied and partner nations. The briefing concluded with an evaluation of the recent efforts to reshape national armed forces, as well as the evolving global defence and security environment in which the United Kingdom operates.
Mr Edward Ferguson, Head of Defence Strategy and Priorities at the Ministry of Defence, was the second speaker of the day. He delivered a presentation on the transformation of British defence, with a focus on two main security objectives: to ensure that the UK is a secure and resilient international actor, and to shape a stable world. The last part of this briefing was dedicated to the implementation process for the current defence reform.
Relations with NATO and the European Union were then discussed by Mrs Alison Stevenson, Head of NATO and Europe Policy at the Ministry of Defence. She provided Course Members with a description of the UK’s role in the Atlantic Alliance and its posture towards the EU. What emerged is not only that NATO forms the essential substratum of British defence policy but also that, through the Alliance and the EU, the UK is contributing to many operational commitments across the globe.
Course Members then met Ms Claire Moran, Head of the Conflict, Humanitarian and Security Department at the Department for International Development (DFID), who briefed them on UK aid policy. Her speech also included an analysis of DFID approaches to conflict resolution, and to reconstruction of both states and societies.
The last lecturer of the day was Mr Nick Pickard, Head of Security Policy at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. He talked about the security challenges the modern world is facing, presenting current British priorities in national security policy as well as the problematic dynamics of security policy-making.
The session ended with a challenging Q&A session, which involved all the speakers and covered the topics discussed during the day.
Collège de Défense de l'OTAN 
