Press Release (2006)019 22 Feb. 2006

NATO Crisis Management Exercise CMX 2006 from 1 to 7 March 2006 NATO will conduct its annual crisis management exercise (CMX 2006) from 1 to 7 March 2006. CMX 2006 is sponsored by NATO's Secretary General and is jointly run by the International Staff, the International Military Staff and the two NATO Strategic Commands, Allied Command Operations and Allied Command Transformation. All 26 NATO nations have been involved in the planning of CMX 2006. The exercise is designed to practice crisis management procedures, including civil-military cooperation, in order to maintain and improve the Alliance's ability to manage crises. The scenario for this exercise is fictitious. The portrayed crisis will focus on progressively developing asymmetric threats to NATO Allies stemming from outside the Euro-Atlantic area. The environment includes a wide range of threats including terrorism and the potential of aggressive action, including of a chemical, biological and radiological (CBR) nature, against NATO forces, territory and populations. The scenario may include preliminary operational planning for the possible activation and employment of the NATO Response Force (NRF). However, no troops are actually deployed for the purpose of this exercise. Participants in CMX 2006 will include civil and military staffs in national capitals, at NATO Headquarters, and in both Strategic Commands. Representatives from the UN, EU and OSCE have been invited as observers. NATO's Partner Nations will be informed on the general contents of the exercise. For further information, please contact the NATO Press and Media Service in Brussels (tel: +32.2. 707.5041; fax: +32.2.707.5057).

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