News

On Monday 6 November 2023, the NATO Defense College delegation was hosted at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), located on King Charles Street in London. The FCDO is the UK’s lead institution to safeguard the country’s security, defend values, reduce poverty and tackle global challenges with international partners. The visit involved discussions and updates on the United Kingdom’s understanding of world challenges, considerations on defence policy both from a UK and a Euro-Atlantic perspective, and an overview of current operational issues. It was also an opportunity to look at UK foreign policy outputs and priorities, as well as future strategies.

On the heels of Italy Day, Senior Course 143 (SC 143) continued the subsequent leg of its European Field Study in Germany, where on 3 November 2023, Course Members visited the Federal Ministry of Defence, attending a number of important and fruitful briefings, all comprising dedicated Q&A sessions, lively and enriching discussions, resulting in deeper understanding of Germany’s perspective and priorities. In the afternoon, Lieutenant General Max A.L.T. Nielsen, Commandant of the NATO Defense College, led the delegation to the Bundeswehr Memorial for a commemorative ceremony and laid a wreath in honour of all members of the German Armed Forces who lost their lives in service of the Federal Republic of Germany.

On 3 November 2023, the 30th NATO Regional Cooperation Course (NRCC 30) marked the culmination of its 10-week academic journey. Members of the diplomatic, defence, and international community gathered to celebrate the graduation of 34 Course Members from NATO Member and partner countries. The graduation of NRCC 30 is more than just an academic event: it is the celebration and conclusion of an academic period defined by the power of transcending borders, fostering unity and consensus, and paving the way to a brighter, and more secure tomorrow.

• NDC Outlook 02-2023: Anyplace, anywhere, anytime - NATO and multi-domain operations, by Christopher M. Schnaubelt *

The start of Field Study 2 for the NATO Defense College's Senior Course 143 was marked by a comprehensive two-day tour in Rome, Italy, encompassing visits to key institutions, including the Italian Joint Operations Command, the Secretariat General of Defence and National Armaments Directorate, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Italy is one of the 12 founding members of the Alliance and a consistently strong supporter of NATO. Through these immersive experiences, Course Members learnt about Italian defence and political priorities and how these align with NATO’s strategic vision and priorities.

As an integral part of NATO Regional Cooperation Course’s (NRCC) Academic Curriculum, the visit to the Allied Joint Force Command (JFC) Naples and the NATO Strategic Direction-South Hub (NSDS HUB) in Naples, gave Course Members the opportunity to learn more about the role these institutions within the NATO Command Structure. This included an examination of the command dynamics between Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) and JFC Naples, as well as the process through which strategic guidance is translated into operational plans and subsequently put into action. The visit also provided a chance for the Commandant of the NATO Defense College, Lieutenant General Max A.L.T. Nielsen, to hold two productive meetings with the Deputy Commander of JFC Naples, Lieutenant General Stephen Kelsey, and the S-Hub Director, Brigadier General Aydın Kiliç, underscoring the added value to gaining deep insights for the NRCC and deepening engagements between the College and both institutions.

The visit of the Estonian Ambassador in Rome H.E. Paul Teesalu to the NATO Defense College, on 24 October 2023, was an opportunity to discuss ways to foster bi-lateral cooperation between Estonia and the College as well as to address the College’s academic work on the war between Russia and Ukraine.

From October 16 to 20 2023, the NATO Defense College (NDC) ran the Modular Short Course Partner Integrated 143-1 (MSCPI 143-1). This Course, which is embedded into the Senior Course 143's academic Study Period B, focused on "The Global Security Environment and Drivers of Change." It brought together military officers from various NATO Partner countries, with the aim of delving into the ever-evolving landscape within which NATO operates, and exploring how the Alliance is adapting to maintain its relevance and effectiveness in the years to come.

• NDC Outlook 01-2023: Ghost ship - Russia’s secret naval fleet, by Giangiuseppe Pili, Jack Crawford and Nick Loxton *

On 13 October 2023, His Royal Highness Prince El Hassan bin Talal of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan visited the NATO Defense College (NDC), accompanied by a delegation from His Royal Highness’s office and the Embassy of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to the Republic of Italy. The aim of the visit was to deliver a Lecture of Opportunity to Senior Course 143 (SC 143) and NATO Regional Cooperation Course 30 (NRCC 30) on “Eurasia and the Stability of the Mashreq”.