Brussels, NATO HQ, 10 March 2025 - A delegation of students and faculty members from the Baltic Defence College (Tartu, EE) visited NATO Headquarters, yesterday. As a part of their ongoing professional journey, the visitors were briefed by a number of subject matter experts from the International Military Staff and International Staff. These briefings showcased how NATO is protecting its 1 billion citizens, across all domains.
Major General Mindaugus Steponavičius, the Lithuanian Military Representative opened the day and introduced the different speakers.
Among others, Major General Ulf Haeussler, the Director of the NATO IMS Operations and Planning division emphasized that "NATO HQ is where the main decision-makers, political and military representatives, from all 32 Allies, are located. It is the beating heart of NATO where our Alliance remains focused on protecting one billion citizens, defending our territory, and safeguarding freedom, democracy and the Rule of Law." Throughout the rest of his remarks, he highlighted ongoing programs that bolster the Alliance's Modernization to ensure Readiness, Deterrence and Defence.
Following, Rear Admiral Alberto Sodomaco provided words of advice to the delegation, also taking stock of his previous experience as a student of the College. He briefed about NATO's ongoing Deterrence and Defence initiatives, stating - inter alia - that "NATO has scaled up to over five hundred thousand troops at high readiness, across the entire Eastern Flank. Troops that help protect the Alliance on a 360-degree approach."
The Baltic Defence College was established by the three Baltic states, in order to act as a centre of strategic and operational advice to intermediate and senior level military officers. The college allows students from all across the Alliance as well as partner nations to participate. It has a primary focus on the ever-important Baltic Region, as well as NATO and EU affairs. The university has recently celebrated its 25-year anniversary. Years it has spent teaching the Alliance's best and brightest.
