On Thursday 21 November 2024, the NATO Military Committee visited Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Mons to be briefed on the status of collective defence planning and the ongoing changes to NATO's Command and Control.
Upon its arrival, the Military Committee was welcomed by Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) General Christopher G. Cavoli, who expressed his appreciation for the Military Committee's continued support for transitioning SHAPE into a warfighting headquarters. He stipulated that NATO and national defence plans are more and more intertwined and mutually supportive. General Cavoli stated that across the Alliance there is ever-growing unity of military action.
The opening statements were followed by a briefing from SHAPE officials about the strategic implications of the Concept for the Defence and Deterrence of the Euro Atlantic Area (DDA). This strategy, together with its subordinate 'DDA Family of Plans' optimises NATO's ability to collectively defend and deter against two threats: Russia and the Terror Groups. True to its motto "vigilance is the price of liberty", SHAPE is making sure all Alliance military operations are optimised for collective defence. Admiral Bauer, Chair of the NATO Military Committee stated: "The fundamental difference between crisis management and collective defence is this: it is not we, but our adversary who determines the timeline. We have to prepare for the fact that conflict can present itself at any time."
The last session of the day focused on NATO efforts to update its command and control. SHAPE continues to streamline its command process to operate as NATO's strategic warfighting headquarters. The ongoing changes will allow it to incorporate all the tools of the Alliance to deter, and if needed, defeat any adversaries, for 24 hours a day in continuous and contested environments.
Overall, the visit enabled the NATO Military Committee to closely interface with SHAPE officials on operational and strategic military developments in the Alliance. Following the Washington Summit, NATO has reiterated its ironclad commitment to strengthen NATO's deterrence and defence by reinforcing and modernising NATO for a new era of collective defence.
