NATO Military Chiefs of Defence meeting 17 and 18 January 2024

The meeting of the NATO Military Committee in Chiefs of Defence Session (MCCS) will enable the Chiefs of Defence to meet and discuss issues of strategic importance to the Alliance.

NATO Deputy Secretary General, Mr. Mircea Geoană will join the Military Committee for the opening session to address the Alliance's key priorities and challenges.

The first session will see General Cavoli, SACEUR, brief the Chiefs of Defence on the progress made towards the implementation and executability of the DDA Family of Plans that was adopted at the Vilnius Summit in July 2023. Broader discussions will also be held on defence industrial capacity, operational planning and enablement.

General Lavigne, SACT, will brief in the second session and update on the warfighting transformation of NATO. SACT will emphasize the need for overall coherence in achieving collective defence and consolidated deterrence, focusing on key enablers like Multi-Domain Operations, streamlined Command and Control, seamless Interoperability, and continuous improvement of Quality and Quantity capabilities. The Chiefs of Defence will also discuss the roadmap for adapting to current and future threats.

In the third session, the Chiefs of Defence will discuss Integrated Air and Missile Defence in order to improve readiness, preparedness, and interoperability in peacetime, crisis, and times of conflict.

The fourth session will see the Chiefs of Defence provide additional direction and guidance regarding NATO’s military deterrence and defence priorities with a focus on key capability requirements ahead of the Washington D.C. Summit decisions and beyond.

The last session of the first day the Chiefs of Defence will meet for the first time in a NATO-Ukraine Council format. They will discuss Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, the situation on the ground, and NATO and Allied continued support to Ukraine.

The second day will begin with the Chiefs of Defence meeting with their Partner Interoperability Advocacy Group (PIAG) counterparts from Australia, Austria, Ireland, New Zealand and Switzerland. The PIAG Nations hold non-NATO Nation Status, granting an individual security agreement that allows the exchange of classified information and participation in NATO training and exercises. Discussions will focus on current and future military interoperability opportunities.

The next session will have the Allied and Invitee Chiefs of Defence meeting with their counterparts from NATO’s Indo-Pacific Partners: Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and the Republic of Korea. Discussions will include the strategic security situation in the Indo-Pacific, regional challenges and their implications for global security.

The final session will see the NATO Secretary General, Mr. Jens Stoltenberg meet with the Allied and Invitee Chiefs of Defence. Discussions will focus on current political objectives and guidance ahead of the Defence Ministerial in February 2024 and the Washington D.C Summit in July 2024.

Media Opportunity

Wednesday 17 January 2024

08h30 Livestreamed Opening Remarks by Admiral Rob Bauer, Chair of the NATO Military Committee, and Mr. Mircea Geoană, NATO Deputy Secretary General.

Thursday 18 January 2024

15h15 Press Conference with

• Chair of the NATO Military Committee, Admiral Rob Bauer,
• Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Christopher Cavoli,
• Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, General Chris Badia.

Media representatives holding a valid 2024 NATO Media pass will have access as usual to the NATO HQ. Media representatives wishing to attend the press conference 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 Monday 8 January 2024.

Media accreditation forms

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 organisation). Media representatives will be given their accreditation at the Guard House South, NATO Headquarters, Boulevard Leopold III, Brussels, Belgium.

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. They are also advised to arrive with sufficient lead-time to clear security checks.

The opening remarks delivered by the Chair of the NATO Military Committee and the NATO Deputy Secretary General will be streamed live on the NATO website. 

The press conference will also be streamed live on the NATO website and the live feed will be provided to EBU.

Video footage will be available for free download from the NATO Multimedia Portal after the event.

Imagery

Following each event, photos, video and audio files will be made available on the NATO IMS webpage www.nato.int/ims, as well as on the Military Committee in Chiefs of Defence session (MCCS) event page.

Social Media

We will post the latest information and photos from the MCCS on the following X accounts: @NATO_PASCAD and @CMC_NATO.

Please use the hashtags #NATOCHoDs and #NATOMC when posting about the NATO Military Committee.

Media Enquiries:

Ms Eleonora Russell, Public Affairs and Strategic Communications Advisor to the NATO Military Committee and the NATO International Military Staff.
Tel: + 32 471 61 09 55
E-Mail: russell.eleonora@hq.nato.int  

Cdr Grzegorz Łyko, Deputy Public Affairs and Strategic Communications Advisor to the NATO Military Committee and the NATO International Military Staff.
Tel: + 32 477 57 07 46    
E-Mail: lyko.grzegorz@hq.nato.int

For more background information about the NATO Military Committee