Chairman of Military Committee addresses National Defence College on the Military Contribution to the New Strategic Concept

Topic Strategic Concept From the event Photos from the event

During the official visit to Romania, the Chairman of the Military Committee (CMC), Admiral Giampaolo Di Paola, discussed inter-alia the contribution the military provide to the development of the NATO’s new Strategic Concept. Addressing a vast audience at the National Defence College, Admiral Di Paola said that ”in the development of the New Strategic Concept, military provide a unique, specific expertise and contribution to the process of harmonization between Alliance’s ambitions and resources.” The Concept is a political document that will charter NATO’s future in the next decade, and will have strategic implications for its military capabilities and operational effectiveness.

The discussion by CMC on the Strategic Concept came just before the group of experts, appointed by the Secretary General, will release its recommendations, which will serve as the foundation to draft the final document to be submitted, for approval, to Allies’ Heads of State and Government, at the NATO Summit in Lisbon.

The Strategic Concept was also a topic of the following joint press conference, where Admiral Di Paola praised his host, Admiral Gheorghe Marin and Romania, for the remarkable contributions that the country is providing to the mission in Afghanistan and other NATO operations, also at the cost of soldiers’ lives. CMC stressed the importance of the support and contributions from the Allies to NATO operations and missions and, in this context, specified the key importance of trainers for the Afghanistan National Security Forces, in order to contribute to the creation of the conditions for the transition process to start in Afghanistan.

During his visit, Admiral Di Paola had also the opportunity to meet with the Romanian Minister of Defence, H.E. Gabriel Oprea and Mr. Iulian Fota, National Security Advisor of Romanian President.  These events gave once again a chance for CMC to thank Romania, on behalf of the NATO Military Committee, for the great role Bucharest is playing in NATO’s operations and activities.