News

On 2 and 3 May, Senior Course 144 took part in Italian Days, a two-day tour in Rome during which Course Members attended briefings by high-level speakers from key Italian institutions such as the Italian Joint Operations Command (ITA JFHQ), the Secretariat General of Defence and National Armaments Directorate (SG/DNA), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of the Interior, and the House of Deputies. This Field Study provided Course Members with first-hand insights on Italy’s strategic concerns and priorities and how such issues align with NATO’s objectives.

Washington, DC (06.05.2024) – Coinciding with the 75th anniversary year of the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty, the NATO Conference of Commandants will this year be held for the first time in the United States. The NATO Defense College (NDC) and the National Defense University (NDU) will co-host the 53rd edition of this annual conference on the NDU campus at Fort McNair, in Washington DC, from 7 to 10 May 2024.

Senior Course 144 visited Berlin, Germany to gain firsthand insights into the nation's defence and security stance directly from the Ministry of Defense.
This was the fourth stop of Senior Course’s Field Study 2 programme, designed to deepen understanding of European Allies' defence perspectives through direct engagement with leading practitioners.

London, United Kingdom, was the third stop on Field Study 2 for Senior Course 144. Hosted at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), the visit provided insights into the UK’s stance on current international defence and security challenges relevant to NATO. It was also a valuable opportunity for interactions with senior officials from the FCDO, the Ministry of Defence and the Cabinet Office, as well as representatives from industry and academia.

Senior Course 144 visited Paris, France, as the second stop on Field Study 2. During their stay, Course Members were briefed on France's defence strategic vision and had the opportunity to engage with high-ranking officials including the Chief of Defence, General Thierry Burkhard, as well as high-level practitioners from the Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Parliament.

Senior Course 144 started their Field Study 2 programme in Lisbon, Portugal, with a visit to the Portuguese National Defence Institute (IDN) which provided firsthand insights into Portugal's strategic approaches concerning defence, security, and foreign policies.

On 19 April 2024, the NATO Defense College graduated the 31st edition of the NATO Regional Cooperation Course (NRCC). Course Members celebrated the completion of the 10-week curriculum with a graduation ceremony gathering Ambassadors to Italy, various authorities and defence attachés, Course Members’ families and NDC Staff.

From 16 to 18 April, the NATO Defense College hosted a workshop organized by the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) gathering the NATO Education and Training Facilities (NETFs) to discuss their approach to Digital Transformation and how they can work together towards this objective.

On 17 April 2024, the NATO Defense College (NDC) welcomed the North Atlantic Council (NAC), the principal political decision-making body within NATO, which brings together representatives of each member country and oversees the political and military processes relating to security issues. This visit was an opportunity for the NAC to learn more about the NDC’s priorities and activities, and to see for themselves how the College contributes to NATO’s effectiveness and cohesion.

On April 16, 2024, the NATO Defense College Commandant Lieutenant General Max A.L.T. Nielsen, took part in “Energy Strategies 2024 - Africa, NATO and Energy Security of Supply,” an Advanced Research Workshop on energy security challenges and opportunities.