Chairman of the Military Committee meets with Asia-Pacific Military Leaders during the Shangri-La Dialogue

The Chairman of the NATO Military Committee’s opening remarks at the “The Armed Forces and New Terrorist Threats” panel highlighted the three main Military Pillars: Deter, Contain and Protect and explained their role in responding to the security challenges that NATO faces in and around Europe.

In his meeting with Admiral Sun Jianguo, Vice Chief of Staff of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA), General Bartels emphasized the importance of NATO-China relations: “I have met with my Chinese counterparts all three times I have attended the Shangri-La Dialogue. It is important to maintain a substantial dialogue where we share political, military and intellectual ideas in order to better understand each other. China and NATO share an interest in the free flow of commerce and cooperate together in Counter Piracy Operations. Admiral Sun said that China pays special attention to the role of NATO in the international political and security affairs, and is willing to continue practical cooperation with NATO in the field of defence and security.

During a separate session with South Korean Defence Minister Han Min-koo, issues of mutual interest and strengthening partnership were explored. Bartels stated: “Our partnership has great potential and there’s a mutual will to explore it further. The Individual Partnership and Cooperation Plan is a solid foundation, and I look forward to building on it as we broaden and deepen our relationship.”

The Shangri-la Dialogue also offered an opportunity to discuss NATO’s long-standing partnership with Japan. General Bartels shared perspectives on strengthening practical military-to-military cooperation between NATO and Japan, during a meeting with Admiral Katsutoshi Kawano, the Japanese Chief of Staff of the Joint Staff. General Bartels emphasized Japan’s important contribution to NATO’s work in Afghanistan. Talking about NATO-Japan relations, Bartels stated: “Our partnership is grounded in our shared values. We share many security challenges and the determination to work closer together”.

In the margins of the Summit, General Bartels also met with the Chief of Defence Force of the Singaporean Armed Forces (SAF) Ng Chee Meng and with the Chief of Defence Force of the Malaysian Armed Forces, General Tan Sri Dato'Sri Zulkifeli bin Mohd Zin, with whom he discussed ways of enhancing military cooperation  and working on matters of common interest. 

Concluding his visit to Singapore, General Bartels emphasized the importance of NATO’s presence at the Shangri-La Security Conference. “By attending the Conference, NATO gets a firsthand insight into the regional security dynamics of the area. There are also many mutual areas of interest between NATO and the Asia-Pacific nations, areas such as Maritime Security, Cyber Warfare, Terrorism and Piracy. It is by sharing ways of operating with and learning from each other, that we will be able to better counter the threats we all face” Bartels concluded.