NATO and the United Nations share a commitment to maintaining international peace and security
NATO Deputy Chairman, Lt Gen Shepro attends UN Chiefs of Defence Conference
Deputy Chairman of the NATO Military attended the United Nations Chief of Defence Conference 10-11 July 2019. While he was at the conference, he took the opportunity to meet with the United Nations Military Advisor, Lieutenant General Carlos Humberto Loitey. The two day conference focused on “Generating capabilities to meet high performance requirements” in UN peacekeeping. Over 100 countries participated, alongside representatives from NATO, the European Union, and UN Mission Force Commanders.
NATO and the United Nations share a commitment to maintaining international peace and security. They have been cooperating since the early 1990s, in support of peace-support and crisis management operations. An updated Joint Declaration setting out plans for future cooperation between NATO and the UN was signed on 26 October 2018. It set out priority areas, including support to UN peace operations, countering terrorism, the protection of civilians and promoting the Women, Peace and Security agenda.
In his meeting with Lt Gen Loitey, Deputy Chairman welcomed the enhanced cooperation between the two organisations, highlighting that working with the UN is very much an integral part of NATO’s contribution to a ‘comprehensive approach’ to crisis management and operations.
Lt Gen Shepro stated: “I am grateful for the opportunity to attend this Conference as regular exchanges and dialogue at senior and working levels greatly assist our work on political and operational issues. NATO’s unique capabilities and experience can be a valuable source of support to the UN whose peacekeepers operate in increasingly challenging and dangerous environments. ”
Practical cooperation between NATO and the UN does however extend beyond operations to include: crisis assessment and management, civil-military cooperation, training and education, rackling corruption in the defence sector, mine action, mitigating the threat posed by improvised explosive devices, civilian capabilities, promoting the role of women in peace and security, the protection of civilians, including children, in armed conflict, combating sexual and gender-based violence, arms control and non-proliferation and the fight against terrorism.