Opening remarks
by Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, General Denis Mercier at the joint press point following the 174th Military Committee in Chiefs of Defence Session
Good Evening, ladies and gentlemen,
As was stressed during this meeting and at the Wales summit, our security environment is evolving, if not worsening, rapidly. Threats have become increasingly complex, persistent and global.
Faced with this multiplicity of threats, the Alliance will have to adopt a posture which is politically and militarily credible. This posture must express its complete solidarity and determination to Deter and Contain any threat, to Protect our infrastructure, territory and people, and to Project stability as necessary.
In this context, ACT programme of work intends to address both the short-term deliverables for the Summit and the long-term requirements expected well beyond Warsaw.
So, in the next 6 months, ACT will continue to support the implementation of the Readiness Action Plan in close coordination with ACO.
And we will focus on comprehensive and continuous awareness which is a necessary condition for planning and conducting multinational operations.
As SACT, I would also like to take a few moments to look beyond the Summit, since we must simultaneously continue to prepare and reinforce the Alliance’s future posture and its military credibility.
As one of Transformation’s main objectives, we have to consider new emerging threats and their implications for military capabilities and force architectures. We also need to exploit and leverage all potential operational and technological breakthroughs as they emerge over the coming years.
For ACT the conclusions we draw from these efforts will drive the implementation of 6 focus areas defining the foundation of NATO’s military posture and its credibility. These areas are Command and Control; Logistics and Sustainability; Collective Training and Exercises; Partnerships; Capabilities; and Human Capital.
It is my belief as the current strategic environment leads us to focus on the present, that NATO must continue to prepare the future. The implementation of the six areas I have mentioned, the preservation of a strong transatlantic bond, an enhanced cooperation with partners and with the European Union, and a dynamic and open engagement with Industry will be the key drivers for the implementation of our future combat capacity.