News

From 17 to 22 March 2025, NATO Regional Cooperation Course (NRCC) 33 conducted a Field Study trip to Brussels, Belgium and Tirana, Albania. The visit provided Course Members with an in-depth look into NATO and EU defence priorities, as well as Albania’s growing role within the Alliance.

• NDC Outlook 04-2025, by Andrea Gilli and Mauro Gilli *

On 12 and 13 March 2025, Senior Course 146 Course Members participated in the International Negotiations and Multilateral Simulation Exercise (MSX), a two-day exercise designed to introduce them to strategic-level negotiation and equip them with the skills necessary to navigate consensus-building in international organizations.

The NATO Defense College (NDC) convened its Annual Meeting of Senior Non-Resident Associate Fellows (NRAF) on 10 and 11 March 2025. This meeting brought together some 30 participants from NATO and partner countries, including Non-Resident Senior Associates, Resident Fellows, and the NDC Research Division Researchers. The primary objective was to foster mutual understanding both personally and professionally and to encourage future collaborations to improve and expand the College’s expertise.

From 24 February to 7 March 2025, 23 military officers and civilian officials from 12 NATO member states attended the Modular Short Course on Contemporary NATO. This intensive two-week programme provided participants with comprehensive insights into NATO's history, organizational structure, and decision-making processes, while examining its evolving role in today’s international security landscape.

On 18 February 2025, the NATO Defense College (NDC) inaugurated the latest editions of its flagship courses: Senior Course 146 (SC 146) and NATO Regional Cooperation Course 33 (NRCC 33). Together, these courses welcome a cohort of 121 participants representing 43 nationalities and 6 services, including diplomats, military personnel, and civil servants.

For 61 years, the Munich Security Conference has served as a platform for high-level dialogue between heads of state, ministers, and key figures from international organizations, industry, media, academia and civil society on pressing security and defence matters affecting the global order and transatlantic relations. In this pivotal year, Commandant Lieutenant General Max A.L.T. Nielsen, Research Division Director Dr Florence Gaub, Researcher Dr Olesya Vinhas de Souza represented the NATO Defense College (NDC) in Munich.

• NDC Outlook 03-2025: Playing the long game - Russia in the Mediterranean, by Giangiuseppe Pili, Alessio Armenzoni, Gary C. Kessler and Diane M. Zorri

The NATO Defense College (NDC) celebrated the graduation of the 145th cohort of its Senior Course during a graduation ceremony held on 31 January 2025. The six-month intensive program culminated in the recognition of 78 senior military and civilian officials from 36 NATO Allied and partner nations, poised to become the next generation of the Alliance’s leaders.

NDC’s Senior Course 145 recently concluded its final week with the two-day Strategic Leadership Programme. The programme focused on the significance of effective leadership and its impact on organizations, particularly in a multinational and multicultural context such as NATO.