From 9 to 12 June 2025, 41 young professionals from eight different NATO nations, part of Simon Fraser University’s NATO Field School and Simulation Program, participated in an intensive four-day Negotiation, Mediation and Decision-Making Exercise (NMDX) at the NATO Defense College (NDC).
The NMDX, also a component of the NDC’s Senior Course curriculum, challenged participants to navigate intricate geopolitical scenarios and NATO’s international crisis management framework. The exercise provided the young professionals with first-hand experience in the complexities of multinational consensus-building negotiations and decision-making processes, all within the framework of NATO’s Crisis Response Process.
This simulation marked one of the final components of the 2025 NATO Field School, which aims to offer students direct insights into the decision-making processes of experts in the political, diplomatic and military fields. Before their visit to the NDC, the group travelled across the Baltics, including a visit to the multinational brigade at Camp Ādaži, and stopped in Brussels for a NATO Summit Simulation at NATO Headquarters.
The NATO Field School students also received briefings from the Dean of the NDC, Dr Suzanne Nielsen, and Faculty Advisor Colonel John O. Birkeland. Throughout the exercise, they were guided by senior mentors Mr Patrick Andrews (former International Staff, NATO Headquarters), Colonel (Retired) Soren Knudsen (Danish Army), and Mr Ilay Ferrier (former Director, NATO’s Crisis Response Systems), who supported their efforts to reach consensus.
Participants praised the experience and the skills they developed during this simulation. Maxime Majoie, a graduate student at King’s College, “very much enjoyed being part of the Negotiation, Mediation and Decision-Making Exercise (NMDX) at the NATO Defense College. During the simulation I had the opportunity to be the chairing official in the Political Committee. It was a very interesting experience to familiarize myself with how the different committees work, how multilateral consensus is reached and to improve my public speaking skills!”
Jayson Biana, an undergraduate student from Simon Fraser University commented: “Playing the role of a national representative in the NMDX simulation allowed me to gain confidence in my ability to negotiate and assert my position. Most importantly, I learned the art of consensus-building when grappling with competing perspectives. This experience has taught me skills that I will take far beyond the NATO Field School and my undergraduate degree.”
NDC Public Affairs Office
(Prepared by Ms Sarah Dicken, CAN C)
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