The Senior Course (SC) visited Berlin, 21 – 23 June, and Germany provided an outstanding programme for NDC. BG Shoepe, an Ancien of the NDC welcomed us on arrival, and hosted a nice lunch at the airport, followed by a sightseeing tour of the Berlin highlights.
BG Hans-Werner Wiermann, Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff, Military Policy and Arms Control Division, Armed Forces Staff, provided a perfect overview of German Security and Defence policy, speaking from both the practical and conceptual points of view. The audience was genuinely captivated by his clarity of thought and persuasive delivery, as he ranged across the whole spectrum of Security and Defence related issues. Not only was it an outstanding brief, but an excellent example of how to give a brief.
Herr Hans-Ulrich Klose MP, Deputy Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Deutscher Bundestag and MP Dr. Hoyer offered their views of experienced Parliamentarians; it provides an essential balance to our discussions and is an important example to the nations represented on the Senior Course. They provided a very interesting discussion concerning the inherent tension between sovereignty and union, and mentioned the current tendency towards re-nationalisation within nation states. Also they discussed the need to reinvigorate the NATO Council, the importance of continued US commitment to NATO and Europe, and offered thoughts concerning Afghanistan, Russia and Iran. MP Dr. Hoyer made a particular point concerning the need to develop the European Defence profile and capabilities.
Mr Rudiger Wolf, State Secretary Federal Ministry of Defence, hosted a marvellous Bavarian-style dinner and in the welcome address outlined the importance of understanding NATO nations’ differing perspectives in order to shape decisions, and thus shape policy to meet the needs of the Alliance. He emphasized trust and respect, the huge success NATO has been, and the key security function that outreach plays, specifically as a core component of the NDC.
Deputy Head of the European Security and Defence Policy Division at the Federal Foreign Office, Mr Beikufner, provided us with an excellent opportunity to engage in discussion on a subject that is important to the NDC curriculum – European Security and Defence Policy. He was clear on the need for better EU-NATO co-operation in Joint Ops, spoke frankly about the inherent tension between sovereign rights and concessions for the sake of union, was clear on the utility of ESDP and addressed some important points concerning the EU Battlegroup Concept. The key discussion concerning the need to develop a better way of integrating Civil and Military components of power was well received
In the year of the 60 th Anniversary of the Federal Republic of Germany and the 20 th Anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall the NDC visit to Berlin was a great success and gave us what was needed for further discussions and debate for our Course Members, especially as focus intensifies on the New Strategic Concept for NATO.
Prepared by Captain Harald Hakonsen, NOR N
NATO Defense College