179th Military Committee in Chiefs of Defence Session – NATO Headquarters, Brussels, Belgium

The first session will focus on key strategic issues facing the Alliance in order to set the scene for the rest of the day’s discussions. The Chiefs of Defence will be joined by Deputy Secretary General, Rose Gottemoeller and the Chairman of the European Union Military Committee, General Mikhail Kostarakos.

The second session centres on NATO’s Strategic Direction South. The Chiefs of Defence will focus on the military aspects relating to the Alliance’s Projecting Stability Initiative, such as NATO’s Training and Capacity Building mission in Iraq and deliverables for the Framework for the South. The Allied Chiefs of Defence will be joined by their Enhanced Opportunities Partner Chiefs of Defence from Australia, Finland, Sweden, Georgia and Jordan.

The third session of the day concerns Deterrence and Defence deliverables. The Chiefs of Defence will discuss NATO-EU cooperation relating to military mobility, the reinforcement of the Alliance maritime posture as well as NATO’s Readiness Initiative.

The final session will focus on Allied modernization. The Allied Chiefs of Defence will receive briefings from General Scaparrotti, (Supreme Allied Commander Europe, SACEUR) and General Mercier, (Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, SACT) on the NATO Command Structure Adaptation and the Detailed Implementation Plan. The discussions are also expected to reflect upon the Alliance’s adaptation - political, militarily and institutional, with a special emphasis on military priorities.

The Chiefs of Defence’s advice and guidance will assist and further frame discussions ahead of the June Defence Ministerial and the Heads of State and Government Summit on 11-12 July 2018.

General Petr Pavel will be supported in each session by General Scaparrotti, SACEUR and General Mercier (SACT). 

The Military Committee meets twice a year at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, at the level of Chiefs of Defence to discuss NATO operations and missions and provide the North Atlantic Council with consensus-based military advice on how the Alliance can best meet global security challenges. Once a year, they meet in an Allied member country.  On a day-to-day basis, their work is carried out by Permanent Military Representatives at NATO Headquarters in Brussels.

Media Opportunities

Wednesday 16 May 2018

08:00-08:15               Media Pool pick up in the Public Square

08:30-08:40               179th Military Committee in Chiefs of Defence Session – Opening remarks by General Petr Pavel, Chairman of the NATO Military Committee

Wednesday 16 May 2018

18:00-18:30               Joint Press Conference in the main Press Theatre with General Petr Pavel, Chairman of the NATO Military Committee (CMC), General Curtis Scaparrotti, Supreme Allied Commander, Europe (SACEUR) and General Denis Mercier, Supreme Allied Commander, Transformation (SACT)

Imagery

Photos and video of all opening sessions will be available online at www.nato.int/ims shortly after each meeting.  The Opening Remarks and Joint Press Conference will be made available on the NATO website after the event. Broadcasters can also request the broadcast quality footage by contacting content@natochannel.tv.

The Opening Remarks and the Joint Press Conference will be livestreamed via the NATO website.

Accreditation

Media representatives holding a valid 2018 NATO Media pass will have access as usual to the new NATO HQ. Media representatives not in possession of a NATO Media pass and wishing to attend the media opportunities available are invited to contact the NATO IMS Public Affairs and Strategic Communications Office via email (ronaynecasimiro.lara@hq.nato.int) with a completed accreditation form no later than 12h00 on 9 May 2018

Media passes will not be mailed to applicants; they must be collected in person upon presentation of an ID card or passport and a valid national press pass (or accreditation letter from a recognized media organization). Media representatives will be given their accreditation at the Guard House South of the ‘new’ NATO Headquarters, Boulevard Leopold III, Brussels, Belgium (GPS: N 50°,52’,42.049” (N 50.878437); E 4°,25’,46.348” (E 4.429541). Passes must be worn visibly at all times, and security personnel may ask to see another form of ID at any time. Media representatives are informed that security personnel will examine and may test equipment and personal effects carried onto the site and are advised to arrive with sufficient lead time to clear security checks.

Social Media

We will post the latest information and pictures from the Military Committee in Chiefs of Defence (MCCS) format on our official Twitter accounts: @CMC_NATO and @NATO_PASCAD. Please use the hashtag #NATOCHoDs when tweeting about the MCCS.

Enquiries

Points of contact for the Chairman of the Military Committee:

Dr Eva Svobodova, Public Affairs and Strategic Communications Advisor to the Chairman of the NATO Military Committee and NATO International Military Staff.
Tel: + 32 2 707 59 83
E-Mail: svobodova.eva@hq.nato.int

General press arrangements:

Ms. Lara Ronayne Casimiro, Public Affairs and Strategic Communications Assistant.
Tel: +32 2 707 54 23
E-mail: ronaynecasimiro.lara@hq.nato.int