Opening remarks

by Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, General Denis Mercier at the Joint press conference with General Petr Pavel, Chairman and General Curtis Scaparrotti

  • 17 Jan. 2018 -
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  • Last updated: 17 Jan. 2018 15:47

(As delivered)

Thank you Mike and Good afternoon.

The evolution of our strategic environment is one of the main drivers for our Military Committee sessions, to ensure that our NATO military capacity remains fit for purpose, now and in the foreseeable future.

And indeed as SACEUR just stated, the strategic assumptions have changed which led to the adaptations we are conducted but this is something we are sure of, there will keep being challenged in the future.

And during this two day meeting of the MCCS, we all agreed that in this environment NATO must adapt fast enough to ensure our continued relevance.

Whether inside or outside the defence community, the organizations that thrive in a complex and rapidly changing environment, are those that acknowledge the necessity to simultaneously operate and adapt.

We cannot afford to address our deficiencies without setting our sights to the longer term and this what my mission is about. To focus Allied Command Transformation on what we call warfare development in order to ensure that SACEUR has the military capacity and posture he needs to face any future challenges.

Because to win tomorrow’s war, we have to prepare today and this is what was behind the reorganisation behind Allied Command Transformation and the whole NATO Command Structure

Thank you.