News

Admiral Rob Bauer, took command as the Chair of the NATO Military Committee (CMC) on 15 June 2021, becoming NATO’s most senior military officer and military advisor to the Secretary General and to the North Atlantic Council. In this capacity, he also presides the NATO Defense College’s Academic Advisory Board, which gives strategic advice to enhance the College's operations and activities.

• NDC Outlook 01-2025: Nuclear NATO: how to make it credible and efficient, by Karl-Heinz Kamp*

From 8 to 10 January 2025, Senior Course 145 engaged in the China Seminar, examining China’s political, military and economic ambitions, and discussing their impact on global security and implications for NATO.

As we approach the end of the year, I would like to extend my warmest wishes to the entire NATO Defense College community. This season is a time to reflect on our collective accomplishments and to express gratitude for the dedication and cooperation that make our work truly impactful.

From 9 to 19 December 2024, Senior Officers and Officials of the NATO Defense College (NDC) Senior Course 145, travelled to Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria and Romania for their third Field Study programme, aimed at understanding the strategic importance of the South Caucasus and Black Sea regions for security and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area.

On 12 December, the NATO Defense College Research Division hosted “Into the Grey”, the third workshop in a series underpinning the development of a book project. This workshop gathered contributors to the project to discuss the concept of “grey-zone warfare”, examining the increasingly blurred lines between peace and war in the 21st century as the nature of conflict evolves.

From 2 to 6 December 2024, Senior Course 145 participated in the Negotiation, Mediation and Decision-Making Exercise (NMDX), an international crisis management simulation that challenged these future leaders' ability to navigate complex geopolitical scenarios and make critical decisions under pressure.

On November 28 and 29, 2024, the NATO Defense College (NDC) welcomed a delegation from the Academy of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Uzbekistan, a unique opportunity for the delegation to learn about the NDC’s objectives and activities. This visit marked a significant step in fostering better mutual understanding and closer cooperation between the College and the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Following last week’s in-depth examination of NATO-Russia relations during the Russia Seminar, Senior Course 145 shifted its attention this week to Africa and the Middle East. The Middle East Seminar examined critical regional challenges, including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Taken together, these NDC seminars highlight the importance of understanding regional complexities in shaping NATO’s strategic priorities.

On 20 November, the NATO Defense College (NDC) Senior Course participated for the first time in the Multi-Dimension Deterrence Strategy (MDDS) Exercise, an innovative, computer/AI-assisted simulation exercise designed to challenge the ability of participants to develop strategies for multi-domain deterrence.