From Monday 11 November to Wednesday 20 November, the second Generals, Flag Officers & Ambassadors’ Course of 2013 (GFOAC 2013-2) took place. The programme was divided into two periods; the first five days were spent at the NATO Defense College (NDC) in Rome, and the second three-day period in Brussels. This unique, high-level course brought together a total of 35 senior participants, from the military, diplomatic and civilian sectors, from NATO Member Nations, the Partnership for Peace, the Mediterranean Dialogue, Global Partners and contract countries. For the first time, Nigeria also sent two participants to the course.
The Course, whose theme was “NATO: Repositioning for the Future?”, was opened with the welcoming remarks of the Course Director BrigGen Gerd BISCHOF (DEU F), Director of Academic Planning and Policy Division at the College.
The opening lecture of the course was given by Mr Michael RÜHLE (DEU C), who updated the audience on post-Chicago developments in the Alliance and in its goals and policies. At the end of the first day, a panel lecture on “The Transatlantic Link” was given by H.E. Ambassador Robert E. HUNTER (USA C) and Prof Dr Carlo MASALA (DEU C). Just beforehand, the NDC also took the opportunity to bestow Honorary Ancien status on Ambassador Hunter, in recognition of his many years of excellent work at the College.
Other highlights of the week at the NDC in Rome were lectures by: Prof Christopher COKER (GBR C), on “Cultural Dialogue: the Western Encounter with the Rest”; Prof Zhiming CHEN (CHN C), on “The Rise of China and its perception of Security and Strategy”; Prof Fawaz A. GERGES (USA/LEB C) and Prof Mustapha BENCHENANE (DZA/FRA C), on “The Middle East and North Africa”; Dr Samina AHMED (PAK C), on “Strategic Crossroads – Afghanistan & Pakistan”; Prof Dr Holger MEY (DEU C), on “Technological Development: Risks and Opportunities”; Mr Alexander KLIMBURG (AUT C), on “The Future of Cyber Warfare”; and finally, Dr David KILLCULLEN (AUS C), on “Insurgencies and Small Wars”.
On Wednesday evening the course was privileged to receive briefings, via VTC, from the Senior Civilian Representative in ISAF, H.E. Ambassador Maurits JOACHEMS (NLD C), and MajGen Jeffrey BANNISTER (USA AR), who is the DCOS Operations for ISAF. Their briefings were followed by a lively Q&A session, again via VTC.
The week in Rome concluded with the Course Director’s closing remarks, before the delegation made their way to Brussels. On Monday 18 November, the delegation visited NATO Headquarters. They were welcomed and addressed by the Chairman of the Military Committee, Gen Knud BARTELS (DNK A). This meeting was followed by a fulfilling and rewarding series of briefings with: RAdm Paolo SANDALLI (ITA N), Deputy Director of the Plans & Policy Division; Mr Ernest J. HEROLD (USA C), Deputy Assistant Secretary General of the Defence Investment Division; Dr Detlef PUHL (DEU C), Senior Advisor for Communication of the Emerging Security Challenges Division; H.E. Stephen EVANS (GBR C), Assistant Secretary General of the Operations Division; H.E. Thrasyvoulos Terry STAMATOPOULOS (GRC C), Assistant Secretary General of the Political Affairs & Security Policy Division; and Col Hans BUEHL (DEU A), Chief of Staff Supreme Allied Commander Transformation Representative in Europe.
On Tuesday 19 November the delegation visited the European Union, where they were welcomed by RAdm Bruce WILLAMS (GBR N), Deputy Director General of the European Military Staff (EUMS). He briefed the audience on the role of the EUMS in the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the current state of play in the EU military domain, with a particular focus on CSDP operations. LtGen (ret) Gilles JANVIER (FRA A), Deputy Civilian Operational Commander and Chief of Staff of Civilian Planning and Conduct Capability (CPCC), then took the floor to deliver a presentation on the role of the CPCC in the EEAS. Both presentations dedicated particular attention to how NATO and the EU are operating within the Comprehensive Approach framework. The visit to the EU concluded with a briefing by BrigGen Walter HUHN (DEU F), Senior Military Advisor in the Crisis Management and Planning Directorate (CMPD), on the role of CMPD in the EEAS and EU civilian-military cooperation; and a panel lecture on the European Defence Industrial Base by Mr Daniel CALLEJA CRESPO (ESP C), Director General Enterprise within the EU Commission, and Mr Graham MUIR (GBR C), Head of the Planning and Policy Unit within the European Defence Agency.
On the last day of the visit to Brussels, Wednesday 20 November, the delegation returned to NATO HQ where they were warmly welcomed by H.E. Ambassador Kolinda GRABAR-KITAROVIC (HRV C), Assistant Secretary General in the Public Diplomacy Division, MajGen José Manuel ESPERANÇA DA SILVA (PRT A), Supreme Allied Commander Europe Representative, and RAdm Emil EFTIMOV (BGR N), Director of the Cooperation & Regional Security Division. These were the final presentations of GFOAC 2013-2, another successful Course which was concluded with a graduation luncheon, chaired by MajGen Ludwig LEINHOS (DEU F), Director of the NATO HQ C3 Staff, and attended by BrigGen Gerd BISCHOF and H.E. Ambassador Sorin DUCARU (ROM C), Assistant Secretary General of the Emerging Security Challenges Division.
Structured over two European capitals and three international institutions, and welcoming participants from a wide variety of countries to tackle the essential topic of NATO repositioning for the future, this edition of a high-level Course once again proved of great value to participants, and the College looks forward to hosting GFOAC 2014-1.
NDC Public Affairs Office
(Prepared by Ms Giulia Bruni Roccia, ITA C)
NATO Defense College