National Defense University and Allied Command Transformation to host discussion on NATO's Strategic Concept
The fourth and final Strategic Concept Seminar convened for the Group of Experts commissioned by NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen to advise the Alliance on a New Strategic Concept will take place at the National Defense University, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, DC, on Tuesday, February 23, 2010. The event is jointly hosted by the National Defense University and Allied Command Transformation in partnership with the Atlantic Council, the German Marshall Fund of the United States, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and the SAIS Center for Transatlantic Relations.
The Chair of the Group of Experts, former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, and Vice Chair Jeroen Van der Veer, former President/CEO of the Royal Dutch Shell Company, will attend. Secretary Albright will speak to the seminar.
NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates will address the seminar.
The previous seminars were hosted by individual allies that have focused on enhancing the strategic debate. This final seminar will address Transforming Structures, Forces and Capabilities. This process is to lead toward a New Strategic Concept agreement in late 2010. The Strategic Concept is the core NATO document that establishes and reflects the transatlantic consensus on the Alliance’s roles, missions, capabilities and on its strategy to deal with security challenges of the 21st century.
Seminar attendees will include the 12 members of the international Group of Experts, NATO’s senior civilian and military leaders, ambassadors and chief military representatives to the Alliance, and many distinguished personalities from across the transatlantic security community. In all, 250 attendees are expected.
Previous seminars have taken place in Luxembourg (addressed Roles and Missions), Slovenia (addressed Operations), and Norway (addressed Partnerships).
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will address the seminar attendees the evening of Monday, February 22 at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, 1150 22nd St., NW, Washington, DC.
Media opportunities to cover events relating to the seminar include:
- Secretary Clinton’s remarks preceded by introductory comments by Atlantic Council Chairman Senator Chuck Hagel and Secretary Madeleine Albright on February 22nd at the Ritz Carlton.
- Opening session on February 23rd from 8:00 to 9:00 AM in Lincoln Hall Auditorium at the National Defense University:
- Welcome by Vice Admiral Ann E. Rondeau, USN, President of National Defense University.
- Welcome remarks by General Stéphane Abrial, French Air Force, Supreme Allied Commander Transformation.
- Seminar opening remarks by U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates.
- Seminar opening remarks by NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen.
- Seminar will be closed to media after the welcoming and opening remarks and re-opened for closing remarks.
- Seminar closing remarks by Group of Experts chair Madeleine Albright on February 23rd from 5:30 to 5:55 PM in Lincoln Hall Auditorium at the National Defense University.
- Media availability with Secretary Albright and the Rt. Hon. Geoffrey Hoon, former Minister of Defense of the United Kingdom, on February 23rd at National Defense University, will be after the Seminar closing and before the reception.
Media interested in covering Secretary Clinton’s remarks on February 22nd should contact: Peter Cassata, Atlantic Council Public Affairs Coordinator, pcassata@acus.org, or 202-778-4991.
Media interested in covering the opening and/or the concluding session of the seminar at the National Defense University on February 23rd should contact: Mr. David Thomas at 202-685-3140, thomasd2@ndu.edu
More information on NATO’s Strategic Concept is available at http://www.nato.int/strategic-concept/index.html.