On January 17 through 18 Gen Valdemaras Rupšys will attend the first NATO Military Committee in Chiefs of Defence Session this year in Brussels. Chiefs of Defence of 31 NATO Allies and invitee Sweden will address the Alliance’s strategic priorities and challenges. Scheduled sessions of the meeting presided over by MC Chair Admiral Rob Bauer will address deterrence and defence in the Euro-Atlantic area, defence capability requirements criteria for 2024, Integrated Air and Missile Defence. In a separate session of NATO-Ukraine Council Chiefs of Defence Russia’s war in Ukraine and sustained NATO and Allied support will be discussed.
U.S. European Command and Supreme Allied Commander (SACEUR) General Christopher G. Cavoli will review the progress made towards in implementation and executability of the Deterrence and Defence of the Euro-Atlantic Area Family of Plans adopted at the Vilnius Summit in July 2023. The session will also address defence industry capacity, operational planning and implementation more broadly.
In the second session Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Transformation General Chris Badia will outline the warfighting transformation of NATO. It is advised to focus on Multi-Domain Operations, streamlined Command and Control, seamless Interoperability, and continuous improvement of Quality and Quantity capabilities in order to ensure overall coherence in building collective defence and consolidated deterrence. NATO CHODS will also discuss the roadmap for adapting to current and future threats.
Then, Chiefs of Defence will discuss the Integrated Air and Missile Defence, Rotational Model aimed at enhancing readiness and interoperability in peacetime, crisis and conflict. Priorities of NATO’s Deterrence and Defence will also be reviewed based on CHODS’ recommendations and guidance ahead of the NATO Summit in Washington in July 2024.
On the second day of the NATO Military Committee in Chiefs of Defence Session NATO CHODS will have strategic consultations with counterparts from Australia, Austria, Ireland, New Zealand, Switzerland, Japan and the Republic of Korea. The discussion will focus on existing and potential opportunities for military interoperability, security situation, regional challenges and their implications to global security.
Chief of Defence General V. Rupšys is planned to meet bilaterally with the U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Charles Q. Brown Jr. , United States top military official, equivalent of Chief of Defence, and Polish counterpart General Wiesław Kukuła.
The Military Committee (French: Comité militaire) convenes twice a year at the NATO Headquarters in Brussels and once – in a member state on a rotational basis. The daily issues are handled by Military Representatives of all Allies posted to the NATO HQ in Brussels.
Photo credit: SSgt Spc Ieva Budzeikaitė.
