On 04 May, the second day of their 2nd Field Study, Senior Course 118 visited the Belgian Defense Staff. The Course members and staff were warmly welcomed by LtGen Guido ANDRIES, Assistant Chief of Staff for Strategic Affairs, who gave a general introduction to the briefings of the day.
The diplomatic aspects of the Belgian security policy and the priorities for the Belgian Government were presented by Ambassador François de KERCKHOVE, Director of Security Policy in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He outlined the competences of the Belgian caretaking Government and stressed that CSDP and NATO issues can not be separated. Furthermore he described the main challenges for the security policy: comprehensive approach, development of the necessary capabilities, deterrence and partnerships.
The second speaker was LtCol Tom WOUTERS, responsible for the national relationship management in the department for Strategic Affairs. He explained to the SC the Belgian Defense Policy. The five main axes of this policy are CSDP, the transatlantic link through NATO, a reinforced role for UN, full support for OSCE and bilateral partnerships, principally oriented to Central-Africa.
The last briefing during the morning session was on the Belgian Defense Transformation. Col Roger HOUSEN, Chief of the Task Force Transformation inside the Department for Strategic Affair and Ancien of SC 113, described the need for transformation and the lines of forces of the transformation plan. He also explained the reduction for the different components and the changes in equipment for the Landcomponent. The main risk for the implementation of this transformation plan is a further decline in the defence budget.
These briefings were followed by a panel discussion with all speakers and with experts in human resources and global relationship management. This discussion was characterised by the open, frank and honest answers of all panellists with also a sense of humour.
After these briefings the SC left for SHAPE where they had lunch during which they where able to meet their national representatives in this HQ.
The afternoon briefings started with a presentation by Maj Ozkan GURHAN, TUR A, staff officer in the Concepts, Plans and Policy Division of the Strategic Policy Office. He explained in detail the content of the paper ‘Bi-SC military contribution to countering Hybrid Threats Concept’. He discussed the different parts of this concept paper, i.a. the key challenge areas of these threats for NATO.
The second lecture was related to “Post-conflict stabilisation and reconstruction” and was brought forward by LtCol Ralf BLASAJEWSKY, DEU A, also staff officer in the same section of the previous speaker. He stressed the activity areas of stabilisation for NATO i.a. security sector reform (SSR), law and order, rule of law, safe and secure environment and freedom of movement even as the necessary cooperation and coordination with other actors during all phases of crisis. He outlined the role of the Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) and SACEURs new guidance developed for PRTs since short.
This was followed by a briefing on the NATO operations presented by Col Juergen STAEHLE, DEU A, working in the Operations and Intelligence Division. He gave an overview of the operations in the Balkan and on KFOR, “Unified protector”, “Ocean Shield”, “Active Endeavour”, the NATO training mission in Iraq and the NATO support to the African Union. The operations in Afghanistan were already discussed in Rome as part of the Study Period C – Part 2.
After a coffee break, Col Thierry CLAUDE, FRA A, staff Officer responsible for the Lisbon follow-on in the Concepts, Plans and Policy Division of the Strategic Policy Office discussed the New Command Structure and its impact on the conduct of NATO operations. He described the reasons for developing this new structure and the changes applied to finish with a personal assessment on this new structure.
The afternoon was closed by a panel discussion chaired by General LANGE, DEU AF, COS. A lot of interesting questions were asked by the course members, mostly related to the new command structure. These were answered in an open, frank and honest way.
SC 118 will continue the Field Study with a visit to OTTAWA and briefings by Canadian officials on 06 May.
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