NATO hosts Partners for Familiarisation Programme

  • 30 May. 2022 - 03 Jun. 2022
  • |
  • Last updated: 07 Jun. 2022 09:36

From 30 May to 3 June 2022, the Cooperative Security division of the NATO International Military Staff hosted a group of Partner Nations as part of their annual Familiarisation Programme. Participants were introduced to the structures and roles of both, NATO and SHAPE headquarters, and explored NATO-Partner military and defence cooperation.

General view of the  meeting

Welcoming the Partner representatives, Major General Francesco Diella, Director of NATO’s Cooperative Security Division, underlined the growing role of NATO’s and Partners’ joint efforts to strengthen Euro-Atlantic and Global Security.  He noted that “in today’s globalised world, Partners are playing a more important role in regional and international security. Through Familiarisation Programmes, like this one, we can learn from each other, about the different approaches to the same challenges and threats. This year’s programme will be held on the eve of the NATO Summit in Madrid, where Allied Heads of State and Government will adopt the next Strategic Concept, which will include guidance on the future of NATO partnerships”.

The first part of the Familiarisation Programme was held at NATO HQ in Brussels. The schedule focused on partnership policy issues as well as existing working tools and mechanisms. Participants discussed a wide range of partner-related topics, such as military cooperation, NATO-EU relations, aspects of crisis and disaster responses, as well as standardisation and defence planning.

The Partner Staff Officers also received briefings on the role of the Partnership Training and Education Centres (PTEC) as well as on the developments in various partnership programmes, including the Partnership Staff Post (PSP) programme and the Individually Tailored Partnership Programmes (ITPP). Participants also had the opportunity to discuss existing partnerships with select Partner Missions and Delegations to NATO.

Colonel Juan Martinez-Esparza, Deputy Director of the Cooperative Security Division summarised the first portion of the programme, highlighting the benefits of holding such an event: “Welcoming Partners to NATO is always a great opportunity to showcase how we work as an international organisation, how we work with Partners but mostly how these partnerships are mutually beneficial. There is much to be learned in the way we tackle common challenges, ultimately improving the effectiveness and timeliness of our responses”. 

The second portion of the programme saw the Partner Staff Officers head to SHAPE for a series of briefings and practical training events. Representatives from the strategic headquarters, especially from the SHAPE Partnership Directorate, presented the Strategic Command’s organisation and responsibilities, ongoing NATO missions and operations, the Operational Capability Concept as well as partnership cooperation tasks, responsibilities and work mechanisms.

The Familiarisation Programme is one of the highlights of NATO’s military cooperation with Partners. The programme provides 34 Partner Staff Officers from 20 Partner Nations serving in partnership-related posts in NATO, national defence or military institutions with a detailed overview of the Alliance’s outreach programmes and activities.