NATO ready and relevant – reaching out to 2020 in post-2014

Welcoming course members from around the globe, Gen. Bartels shared his perspectives as Chairman of the NATO Military Committee on the current security environment and its impact for the Alliance as it withdraws from Afghanistan.  “So what for the Alliance and NATO nations?  We need to be ready to face new challenges in today’s unpredictable world; therefore, we need to have armed forces ready to adapt to all ranges and spectrums of operations,” he stressed.

At the Chicago Summit, nations set the goal of NATO Forces 2020: modern, tightly connected forces equipped, trained, exercised and commanded so that they can operate together and with partners in any environment.  “The 2015 Exercise - which will be hosted by Portugal, Spain and Italy – will offer a crucial opportunity to train tactical and non-tactical elements of our armed forces,” Gen. Bartels said.  Touching upon economic challenges, he also underlined the need to minimize costs and optimize resources.  “That’s why the Secretary General launched Smart Defence and the Connected Forces Initiative: to bring together nations and maintain the capabilities acquired in Afghanistan.” 

Illustrating the Alliance’s current and future operations, Gen. Bartels emphasized that NATO is not leaving Afghanistan. “We are ready to engage in the ‘Resolute Support’ mission post-2014, to train, advise and assist the Afghan National Security Forces.  But let me stress one again: Afghanistan belongs to the Afghans and an Afghan solution must be found in the country.”

The Royal College of Defence Studies is the senior college of the Defence Academy of the UK, aimed at preparing senior officers and officials of the United Kingdom and other countries, and future leaders from the private and public sectors, for high responsibilities in their respective organisations, by developing their analytical powers, knowledge of Defence and international security, and strategic vision.