Alliance marks 65th Anniversary of the NATO Defense College
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg led the North Atlantic Council and the NATO Military Committee in celebrating the 65th anniversary of the NATO Defense College (NDC) on Thursday (13 October 2016). During a commemorative ceremony in Rome, the Secretary General highlighted the NDC’s role as a leading centre for forward-looking education.
“This College has been essential to NATO’s ability to deal with evolving challenges and to prepare for an uncertain future,” said Mr. Stoltenberg. He noted that the NDC holds a well-deserved reputation for excellence in scholarship and cutting-edge research which extends beyond the Alliance. The Secretary General also thanked Italy for hosting the NDC’s campus for the past five decades.
In Rome, the Secretary General also met with Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Defence Minister Roberta Pinotti. They discussed NATO’s efforts to strengthen its deterrence and defence posture, and to counter challenges emanating from the South. Earlier at the Vatican, Mr. Stoltenberg was received by His Holiness Pope Francis. Tomorrow, Mr. Stoltenberg will participate in a conference at the NDC on NATO cooperation with partners in the Mediterranean and the Middle East. He will also meet with Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni.