Munich Security Conference’s Post

In my latest piece for Carnegie Endowment for International Peace I argue that Northern Europe is no longer ”the forgotten flank” of NATO but rather the core of Euro-Atlantic security and stability. The Alliance must comprehend the new geographic and military realities. To capitalize on Finland, and soon Sweden, joining NATO, it is crucial for the alliance to prioritize the coordination of robust defensive responsibilities and capabilities in Northern Europe. https://lnkd.in/dZPAWXZ2

Linking the different levels of HQs in an effective, efficient and economical way is a key outcome but a subliminal effect is that the alumni join a network- it's the human network that allows them to grow their knowledge and understanding and this then translates into better problem-solving under pressure.

As NATO prepares to celebrate its 75th anniversary in Washington, Russia's ability to threaten alliance members is real and pressing. Can Kasapoğlu, author of Hudson's weekly Ukraine Military Situation Report, explains how NATO needs to change to counter it. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/enfG8NW6

A few years ago, I was at #RigaStratComDialogue. To this day, one of the most compelling and thought provoking events I’ve ever attended with a myriad of international experts. The 2024 edition, marking its 10th year, kicked off today with a keynote from Janis Sarts director of the NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence. A thought to consider: "Boundaries have ceased to exist in an #information space. Conflicts still might be regional, but information surrounding them is global (...) We cannot be late to respond.” Often, far away from regional conflicts, information or disinformation, shapes our perception and understanding. Enter AI and there are both risks and opportunities. Are we, though, discerning with the right amount of skepticism? Do we have the tools to know the difference between what is true or not? And where do we put our trust? In the information or the source… much to consider. #StratCom

As #NATO completes 75 years of its existence as a successful military alliance that has stood the test of time, it is the right time to focus on strengthening the #European pillar of this transatlantic alliance. It is important to understand that a strong and robust European pillar with status parity with the #American pillar will only complement the role of the NATO arrangement as an effective deterrence. The #UnitedStates, too, needs to shed its historical hesitancy against a strong and self-dependent Europe and must facilitate the European defence autonomy, which is not to be misunderstood as a step towards NATO dismantling. Read more about “NATO at 75: The European Pillar of the Trans-Atlantic Alliance” in the latest #ICWAViewpoint by Aman Kumar, Research Associate, ICWA. Click 👉 bit.ly/3LV4aqh

April 4th 2024, marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of NATO. The alliance began with 12 founding members; now there are 32. We'd like to join our NATO customers in celebrating the organisation's enduring commitment to fostering cooperation, defending freedom, and ensuring security. NATO's success serves as an inspiring reminder of what can be achieved when nations unite around a common purpose. In the words of Winston Churchill, "All the greatest things are simple, and many can be expressed in a single word: freedom; justice; honor; duty; mercy; hope." At accord, we draw strength from this example as we work to empower our clients with the tools, insights, and strategies they need to thrive in a rapidly changing world. On this NATO Day, we renew our pledge to be a trusted partner in building a brighter, more secure future for all. Happy NATO Day! 🙌🏼

NATO and friends: a tale of two exercises 17th June 2024 As NATO marks its 75th anniversary, Callum Fraser considers the strategic role of exercises in delivering deterrence in the Euro-Atlantic and Asia-Pacific arenas. As NATO prepares to mark its 75th anniversary against the dark backdrop of the Ukraine conflict, it has just completed its largest and perhaps most significant post-Cold War exercise, Steadfast Defender. On the other side of the world, where strategic clouds are gathering, Australia and the United States are laying plans for the largest and most important edition yet of their main biennial joint training exercise, Talisman Sabre. This will likely also involve the most significant contributions yet by other partner nations, including from Europe. These two major sets of manoeuvres are a reminder of the importance of exercises in delivering defence, deterrence and strategic messaging – demonstrating both will and capability. They also point to the increasingly intertwined security concerns and connections between the Euro-Atlantic and Asia-Pacific theatres.

Why was NATO created? Since its origins in 1949, NATO has stood as a guarantee for peace in the Euro-Atlantic area. Here is what you need to know about the creation of the Alliance, which protects one billion people 👇

Is NATO Dependent on the UK & US? The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) really has come a long way since the original 12 nations signed the Treaty in April 1949. These heroic countries were: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom and the United States. It is often said that NATO was founded in response to the threat posed by the Soviet Union. This is only partially true. In fact, the Alliance’s creation was part of a broader effort to serve three purposes: deterring Soviet expansionism, forbidding the revival of nationalist militarism in Europe through a strong North American presence on the continent, and encouraging European political integration. As a young soldier I spent 5 years as part of a NATO led multi-national Brigade that acted as a Quick Reaction Force (QRF). Our key role was to deter Soviet aggression on NATO’s northern flank, predominantly Norway and as far north as deep into the Arctic Circle. Our other flank was the East and saw us deploy to sunnier climes, such as Greece, Sardinia, and even (Asian) Turkey. The two areas were very different, with annual northern deployments requiring us to undertake some of the toughest, most demanding training of my military career. Happily, it saw me qualify as a Ski Instructor and a Mountain Leader (Winter). This tour was possibly the most rewarding of my time in the Army, and still gives me a glow of satisfaction when I talk to friends and colleagues from that magical era. We refer to ourselves as “Arctic Warriors” and remain as close now, as we were nearly 50 years ago! Having stated my vested interest in the Alliance, I admit to some genuine unease at the current state it is in. At the risk of offending anybody, which is never my intention, I ask people to consider removing the UK and the US from the current member list, now standing at 32. My reason for asking this, is that I believe our current Defence Secretary is behaving very foolishly in his messaging to the nation. He is consistently telling the public that we are in a position to lead NATO if it was necessary, we are not. Further to this, he fails to recognise that the US election later this year, could feasibly be won by Donald Trump. Accepting that, any decision by the US not to meet their NATO commitment changes everything, in terms of the balance of power. Consecutive UK Governments have reduced our war fighting capability to the point that we would do well to protect our own borders. This has been a deliberate action that has increased in its pace over the last 25 years. For as much as I feel pride in NATO’s growth, without a full strength UK and US participation, its ability to come together as a cohesive fighting force is debatable at best. Why can’t the outgoing Defence Secretary show respect to the public and tell the truth. I do not doubt the commitment of other member nations, just their lived experience in the horrors of war!