The annual Generals, Flag Officers and Ambassadors Course (GFOAC 2023-1) was held from 12-16 June 2023 at the NATO Defense College.
The Course brought together some 50 participants: Generals, Flag Officers, Ambassadors, as well as high level civilian decision-makers from the Ministries of Defence, Foreign Affairs and other administrations whose interests cover strategic security issues. Distinguished Course Members represent NATO, the Mediterranean Dialogue, the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative and other selected partners across the globe.
The Course aims to enhance the understanding of current political-military issues and concerns affecting the Alliance, to foster mutual understanding, and to promote networking amongst participants.
The theme of GFOAC 2023-1 was “360 NATO, Deterrence and Defence”. The Course focused on NATO’s core functions and on exploring the drivers for deterrence; the spectrum, thresholds and consequential concurrencies of deterrence and defence; and how NATO delivers these critical core functions. Participants looked at key geographic and topical challenges, and the NATO approach that builds on the Strategic Concept 2022, informed by the expectations for the Vilnius Summit.
GFOAC 2023-1 was a 5-day course, divided into two themes. The first two days focused on Global Security Challenges followed by two days looking at how NATO meets these challenges through deterrence and defence. These themes were approached in three phases: explanation of the topics through lectures; exploration of the subject area through panel discussions; and consolidation of the theme in Committee Room discussions. The programme comprised 15 lectures, 4 panel discussions and 2 committee discussions.
On the first day of the Course, NDC Commandant, Lieutenant General Rittimann delivered his welcome remarks to the participants, followed by an introduction on GFOAC, as well as a briefing on the main functions and activities of the College, provided by the Head of the Academic Operations Division (DAO), Brigadier General Ferenc Molnár.
Participants also heard lectures on the following topics: “Russian Foreign and Domestic Policy”, by Dr Pavel Baev and Dr Can Kasapoglu; “The Evolving Security Landscape in The South” by Mr Mark Fitzpatrick, Dr Luca Raineri and Dr Claudia Gazzini; and a virtual presentation on “Senior NATO Military Perspective on NATO and Deterrence and Defence” by General Christian Badia, Deputy Supreme of the Allied Commander Transformation. Each lecture was followed by panel discussions with all speakers.
Day 2 continued with lectures on the following: “High North” by Dr Andrea Charron and Rear Admiral Martin la Cour; “The Security Implications of China’s Rise” by Professor Ashley Tellis and Ms Meia Nouwens; and “Non-State Global and Threat Actors” by Mr David Cattler, NATO Assistant Secretary General for Intelligence and Security – joining virtually – and Professor Murat Yesiltas.
The programme continued on Day 3 with lectures on “Instruments of Power, the Diplomatic, Information, Military, Economic, Financial, Intelligence, Law Enforcement (DIMEFIL) approach & spectrum of action” by Admiral (Ret.) Harry Harris and Dr William Alberque; “Deterrence and Defence” by Dr Bastian Giegerich and Gen (Ret.) John Nicholson; and “Weapons of Mass Destruction and Nuclear Deterrence” by Mr Garret Martin and Professor Daryl Press.
Day 4 included a lecture on “Multi-Domain Operations” by Deputy Chief of Staff of the Joint Force Development, Rear Admiral Placido Torresi, Dr Max Smeets and Dr Raymond Ruscoe and “NATO next steps” by Commodore Rob Curry and Rear Admiral Nick Wheeler.
The final day of GFOAC 2023-1 concluded with a final lecture: “Senior Civilian Perspective on NATO, Deterrence and Defence” by Ms Stacy Cummings. NDC Commandant Lieutenant General Rittimann delivered the closing remarks. Participants then received their diplomas, followed by a vin d’honneur to mark an enriching and successful completion of the GFOAC.
NDC Public Affairs Office
(Prepared by Ms Zsofia Juhasz, HUN C)
NATO Defense College