NATO Chiefs of Defence translate Warsaw Summit political decisions into strategic military guidance
Meeting two months after the NATO Warsaw Summit, the Allied Chiefs of Defence (CHoDs) stressed the need for complete coherence throughout all military adaptation, the unity of effort and viewing threats in a global context. ''To protect our territory and populations, we must also project stability beyond our borders'', General Petr Pavel, Chairman of the NATO Military Committee said at the MC Conference in Split, Croatia.
Opening the Military Committee conference, the Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović highlighted the importance of the Military Committee’s work and echoed the importance of translating political decisions into military strategic guidance. ''In Wales, the NATO Heads of State and Government gave the initial guidance in an impressive show of unity among Allies and managed to maintain the momentum to Warsaw. Now it is the NATO Military Committee’s task to take us one step further in facing the challenges ahead of us. And those challenges are many'', said the President.
During the session on delivering coherence to military adaptation, the Chiefs of Defence reemphasized how crucial a credible defence and deterrence was in the ever-changing security environment. Conventional and non-conventional methods of warfare are being conducted by state and non-state actors and NATO must have the ability to provide a 360 degree response.Speaking on the Readiness Action Plan Assurance Measures, the Chiefs of Defence affirmed that these defensive measures demonstrated the Alliancecollective solidarity and resolve to protect all Allies. They went on to say however that where, and when possible, cooperation with international organizations such as the European Union was essential in responding to global challenges.
NATO-led operations, missions and activities were the focus of the afternoon’s session. The Allied Chiefs welcomed the decision of Heads of States and Government commitment to sufficiently fund the RESOLUTE SUPPORT mission to train, advise and assist the Afghan Security Defence Forces until 2020. Discussing regional security in more detail, the Chiefs of Defence reiterated the stabilising effect KFOR has in the Western Balkan region and that any change to the force posture should be conditions-based. Concluding their discussions on training and capability building in Iraq, it was recognized how building the capacities of Iraqi defence and security forces was a way for NATO to project stability into the region.
General Petr Pavel remarked in the joint press conference with General Mirko Sundov, the Chief of Defence of Croatia, how the day’s meeting had allowed for frank and fruitful exchanges ahead of next month’s Defence Ministers’ meeting in Brussels, Belgium.