On 14 February 2023, the NATO Defense College inaugurated two of its renowned courses, the Senior Course 142 (SC 142) and the NATO Regional Cooperation Course 29 (NRCC 29).
Inauguration Day is an important moment during Week 1 for both the SC and the NRCC. The opening address was presented virtually by the guest of honour, Lieutenant General Hubert Cottereau, Vice Chief of Staff Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (VCOS).
The inaugural ceremony is a special event, preceded by briefings to equip Course Members with fundamental tips and information to begin their academic journey on the right foot.
Participants gathered in the Main Auditorium where the Commandant, Lieutenant General Olivier Rittimann, opened the ceremony with a welcome address to SC 142 and NRCC 29.
During his speech, he underscored the history of NATO’s premier academic institution. “The College’s role, 70 years on, is more relevant than ever for NATO and its partner countries. Indeed, one of NATO’s three core tasks is cooperative security and the NDC puts this policy into action every day in the way we adapt course content and select lectures and subjects, always keeping top of mind the relevance that these issues have for NATO”.
Addressing the CMs as future leaders, the Commandant added, “you will gain useful skills for your future roles. Skills such as strategic thinking critical analysis and consensus building. Our role here at the College is to provide a forum wherein you can analyse and discuss the implications of all the current issues, and how to face the challenges they entail.
Respecting academic freedom and the Chatham House rule, our main goal is to let you take full advantage of the different, and sometimes conflicting, perspectives given by the high degree of diversity of your backgrounds.” In conclusion, he said, “achieving mutual understanding it is not an easy task, however, serious efforts should be done to do so”.
In his inauguration address, Lieutenant General Hubert Cottereau, underscored three main points: “We must set the scene on where we stand and where we are going. First, the changing world in which systemic crisis are emerging alongside other phenomena create a very unstable international context. Then, as for NATO: we are now at NATO 3.0, going towards a “war by necessity if necessary” within a framework of acceleration of collective defence”. Finally, he provided the CMs with some personal advice: “Work hard and be ready after this experience to put into practice what you have learnt, take this opportunity to better understand different approaches by working with people that have a different mindset from yours; open your mind and work hard. There is no time for laziness”. In conclusion, the first Q&A session, moderated by Navy Captain Paulo Inácio, gave Course Members the chance to interact with the special guest.
The inauguration ceremony marks the beginning of both courses, with a total number of 107 CMs, senior officers and civilians from NATO member states and partner countries, who are attending the two courses: 75 (representing 33 nations) for Senior Course 142, the College’s flagship course, and 32 (from 20 different nations) for the NATO Regional Cooperation Course 29, which is the alliance’s major educational outreach endeavour to engage with countries of the Mediterranean Dialogue (MD) and Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI) countries, as well as partners from the broader region of the Middle East.
NDC Public Affairs Office
(Prepared by Ms Benedetta Cavaglia, ITA C)
NATO Defense College