The Chairman of NATO’s Military Committee meets UK Defence Officials
On 4 March 2011 NATO’s most senior military official, Admiral Giampaolo Di Paola, met with the UK Secretary of State for Defence, R.H. Dr. Liam Fox, the National Security Adviser, Mr. Peter Rickets, and the Chief of the Defence Staff, General Sir David Richards, to discuss the implementation of NATO Strategic Concept and ongoing NATO operations, in particular Afghanistan, but also the evolving situation in North Africa.
The new Strategic Concept, which was approved by NATO Heads of State and Government in Lisbon last November, sets out to further reform the Alliance into a more agile, efficient and leaner organization.
NATO Reform and the prioritization of military capabilities were at the centre of discussions. On resources, Admiral Di Paola emphasized the need for nations to work closer together to implement “Smart Defence” in an age of austerity through clear prioritization, more flexibility, and more multinational pooling of resources.
In preparation for next week’s Ministerial meeting in Brussels, Cyber Defence and Missile Defence were also discussed, together with the current situation in Afghanistan, and the path to transition.
During his visit to London, Admiral Di Paola also addressed the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) on ‘”A Revitalized Alliance for a Dynamic World”.