NATO's highest Military Authority, the Military Committee, will meet in person on 15 and 16 January 2025 in Brussels. Allied Chiefs of Defence will meet with over 20 of their counterparts from NATO Partner nations. The meeting will be presided by Admiral Rob Bauer, Chair of the Military Committee and supported by General Christopher Cavoli, Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), and Admiral Pierre Vandier, Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (SACT).
The Chiefs of Defence will discuss issues of strategic importance to the Alliance, while focusing on cooperation with Partners and unified responses to global challenges.
NATO Secretary General, Mr. Mark Rutte, will join the Military Committee for the opening session to address the Alliance's key priorities and challenges.
The first session will see Supreme Allied Commander Europe General Cavoli brief the Chiefs of Defence on NATO's readiness to deter and defend the Euro-Atlantic area and to safeguard the region's one billion inhabitants. SACEUR will also have broader discussions on NATO's ongoing missions, and on support to Ukraine, including the NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU), which has begun to assume responsibilities to support Ukraine.
During the second session, Supreme Allied Commander Transformation Admiral Vandier, will lead a discussion on Interoperability by Design. Additionally, SACT will update the Military Committee on :
- The NATO Defence Planning Process;
- The status of the Joint Analysis Training and Education Centre (JATEC);
- The implementation path for a multi domain-enabled Alliance by 2030.
In the third and fourth sessions, together with their counterparts from NATO Partners nations, the Chiefs of Defence will discuss the different manifestations of pervasive instability around the globe.
Exchanges with partners will continue on the second day, when Allied and Partner Chiefs of Defence will discuss military cooperation, standardization and interoperability.
This will be followed by thematic sessions on the Global South and the Indo-Pacific, with briefings on the strategic security situation of both regions, their regional challenges and implications for world-wide security.
The MCCS will wrap up with a Joint Press Conference by the Chair of the NATO Military Committee, Supreme Allied Commander Europe, and Supreme Allied Commander Transformation.
Media Opportunities
Wednesday 15 January 2025
08:30 Livestreamed Opening Remarks by:
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- Admiral Rob Bauer, Chair of the NATO Military Committee,
- NATO Secretary General, Mr. Mark Rutte.
Thursday 16 January 2025
17:30 Press Conference with
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- Chair of the NATO Military Committee, Admiral Rob Bauer
- Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Christopher Cavoli
- Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, Admiral Pierre Vandier.
Media representatives holding a valid 2025 NATO Media pass will have access as usual to the NATO HQ. Media representatives wishing to attend the press conference are invited to contact the NATO IMS Public Affairs and Strategic Communications Office via email () with a completed accreditation form no later than 1200hrs on Monday 6 January 2025.
Media passes will not be mailed to applicants; they must be collected in person upon presentation of an ID card or passport and a valid national press pass (or accreditation letter from a recognized media organisation). Media representatives will be given their accreditation at the Guard House South, NATO Headquarters, Boulevard Leopold III, Brussels, Belgium.
Passes must be worn visibly at all times, and security personnel may ask to see another form of ID at any time. Media representatives are informed that security personnel will examine and may test equipment and personal effects carried onto the site. They are also advised to arrive with sufficient lead-time to clear security checks.
The opening remarks delivered by the Chair of the NATO Military Committee and the NATO Secretary General will be streamed live on the NATO website.
The press conference will also be streamed live on the NATO website and the live feed will be provided to EBU.
Video footage will be available for free download from the NATO Multimedia Portal after the event.
Imagery
Following each event, photos, video and audio files will be made available on the NATO IMS webpage www.nato.int/ims, as well as on the Military Committee in Chiefs of Defence session (MCCS) event page.
Social Media
We will post the latest information and photos from the MCCS on the following X accounts: @NATO_PASCAD and @CMC_NATO.
Please use the hashtags #NATOCHoDs and #NATOMC when posting about the NATO Military Committee.
