On 28 February 2024, the Cooperative Security Division of the NATO International Military Staff (IMS) hosted its Bi-annual Meeting with Partners. Participants from 30 NATO Partner Nations and the European Union Military Staff discussed strategic partnering, capacity-building, education and training solutions and practical cooperation.
Opening the meeting, the Deputy Chair of the NATO Military Committee, Lieutenant General Andrew M. Rohling, underlined that NATO is committed to furthering and improving military cooperation with Partners. "Many of you have contributed for many years to the Alliance's operations and missions; side by side with Allied forces, as brothers and sisters in arms," Lieutenant General Rohling said. He also extended his appreciation to representatives of Ukraine participating in the meeting, reaffirming that "NATO and individual Allies and Partners have resolved to support Ukraine for as long as it takes to repel the Russian invasion."
Taking the floor next, the Director of the IMS Cooperative Security division, Major General T. Serban highlighted the importance of NATO Partners. "For me the core task of this meeting, but also for the work of my team is that we make NATO better and stronger," Major General Serban said, adding that "the Alliance and Partners work together to establish cooperative security with NATO programmes helping Partner countries to develop their own defence." He noted that his hometown in Romania is only a ten hour drive from Kyiv and his thoughts were constantly with Ukrainians "fighting for our security by successfully withstanding the Russian aggression."
Partner Military Representatives and specialists were then briefed by NATO experts on how the 2022 Strategic Concept impacts NATO's political ambitions relating to Partnerships, NATO's evolving strategy in the South and the concept of Out-Partnering.
The following portion was dedicated to the implementation of NATO Partnerships, including Defence Capacity Building, Building Integrity and the Defence Educational Enhancement Programme. Partners also received an update on NATO and Partners Cooperative Counter-Terrorism activities.
The last session commenced with briefings on NATO's efforts in protecting critical undersea infrastructure and NATO's Digital Ocean, a pioneering initiative to enhance maritime situational awareness from seabed to space. Finally, an open forum discussion with NATO civilian and military experts sought Partners input and recommendations to enhance NATO's Partnership strategy, policy, programmes and activities.
At the initiative of the IMS, and under the auspices of its Cooperative Security Division, this Partners meeting is held bi-annually. It provides an informal setting for a constructive dialogue on Partnerships, military cooperation and other topics of common interest at the military-political level.
