National Defense University Symposium

NATO:  Bucharest and Beyond

Sponsored by
The Institute for National Strategic Studies
at
Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, DC
February 20, 2008

“NATO has transitioned from a defensive alliance to a security-focused alliance.”
General John Craddock, USA
Supreme Allied Commander, Europe and Commander, U.S. European Command

For nearly six decades NATO has been the central organizing point of transatlantic security.  In the aftermath of the Cold War, many questioned the relevance, usefulness, and future viability of NATO.  Through enlargement and a series of transformations the Alliance has evolved and arguably has been strengthened. 

NATO faces several real and significant challenges as it pursues complex operations, especially in Afghanistan and Kosovo, that are very different from the territorial defense missions envisioned during the Cold War.  It also is considering how best to address evolving threats posed by the proliferation of ballistic missile and nuclear, biological, chemical, and radiological weapon capabilities.  The U.S. commitment to NATO, while still very important, continues to adapt to a new strategic environment.   And while the Alliance as a whole has not decided whether, how, and when to launch a process of revising its 1999 Strategic Concept, numerous officials within Allied governments and outside experts have suggested that such a revision is necessary to reaffirm Alliance solidarity regarding its goals and missions in the early 21st Century. 

The goal of this symposium is to identify and explore these key issues and offer a range of suggestions for the way ahead.

Key concepts:

• Program is open to the public
• Speakers will include U.S. and European military officers, government officials, and think-tank researchers (government and non-governmental)
• Presentations will be covered by NDU non-attribution guidelines, (similar to “Chatham House” rules), with willing participants available for on-the-record interviews

0820-0840 Opening Remarks:  Lieutenant General Frances C. Wilson, USMC, President,
 National Defense University

0845-1020 Panel I:  Political-Military dimensions of improving NATO’s performance in operations

NATO’s role in complex, demanding and sustained stabilization operations in Afghanistan has posed new and distinct challenges.

• Are its political structures and procedures able to provide the needed strategic guidance to NATO Military Authorities and oversight of ongoing operations?
• What options should be considered to address the gap between the decision to commit to operations and the shortfalls of the force generation process in meeting the Combined Joint Statement of Requirements to conduct those operations effectively?
• Does NATO need to delineate more clearly the command authorities within the NATO chain of command and, if so, what would be the implications for national command authorities? 
• How can NATO develop a more proactive and responsive strategic communications effort to support ISAF? 

Moderator: Dr. James Bergeron, Political Advisor, Striking Force NATO/US Sixth Fleet
Panelists: 
Mr. Nicholas Niemtchinow, Office of Strategic Affairs, Security and Disarmament, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, France
Major General Ton van Loon, Netherlands Army, former NATO-ISAF Commander, Regional Command South
Major General Heinrich Brauss, German Army, Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Policy and Planning, Defence Policy and Planning Division
  
1035-1135 Panel IIA:  Capabilities Development (Missile Defense)

The subject of missile defense capabilities in Europe is of increasing interest within and outside the Alliance.

• What are the challenges ahead to establishing technical and command-and-control linkages between the proposed U.S. missile defense installations in Poland and the Czech Republic and NATO’s missile defense activities?
• How might cooperation with Russia, whether bilaterally with the United States and/or through NATO, be factored into the missile defense equation?

Moderator: Ms. Elaine Bunn, Senior Research Fellow, Institute for National Strategic Studies
Panelists: 
Major General Patrick J. O’Reilly, USA, Deputy Director, Missile Defense Agency
Lieutenant General Patrick de Rousiers, French Air Force, Commander, Air Defense and Air Operations

1145-1245 Keynote address (via VTC): General John Craddock, USA, Supreme Allied Commander Europe and Commander, U.S. European Command
Moderator: Dr. Patrick Cronin, Director, Institute for National Strategic Studies

1245-1330 Lunch

1330-1430 Panel IIB:  Capabilities Development

Multinational logistics, while not a panacea, offers a range of potential cost and efficiency benefits for NATO operations. 

• What are the potential advantages and implications of establishing additional “consortia” or other multinational “pooling” arrangements in areas such in-theater lift, air-to-air refueling, and medical services?
•  What should be the priority areas for NATO to investigate and/or establish multinational acquisition and logistics arrangements—e.g., in-theater lift (including helicopters), air-to-air refueling and medical services?

Moderator: Mr. James Townsend, Director of the Program on International Security at the Atlantic Council of the United States
Panelists: 
Mr. James Engle, Office of the Defense Advisor, U.S. Mission to NATO  
Mr. Bruno Cantin, Head of Logistics (Defence Policy and Planning Division), NATO International Staff 

1440-1610 Panel III:  United States in NATO

The size, structure, and locations of U.S. forces in Europe are in transition, while the United States since late 2006 has shifted a significant number of forces from U.S. to NATO command in Afghanistan.

• How are these changes affecting U.S. equities in NATO?
• What is the relationship today between U.S. European Command and NATO, and how should this evolve in the future?
• What are the possibilities and/or constraints on cooperation between NATO and the recently-established U.S. African Command?

Moderator: Mr. Leo Michel, Senior Research Fellow, Institute for National Strategic Studies
Panelists: 
Ambassador Robert Hunter, Senior Advisor, RAND Corporation and President, Atlantic Treaty Association
Brigadier General Mark F. Ramsay, USAF, Deputy Director for Politico-Military Affairs (Europe, NATO, Russia, Africa), Strategic Policy and Plans Directorate, the Joint Staff
Admiral Gregory Johnson, III USN (Ret), former Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe, and Commander in Chief, Allied Forces, Southern Europe

1620-1750 Panel IV:  Toward a new Strategic Concept

There is broad agreement within the Alliance on the advisability of developing a new Strategic Concept, but a range of views on how and when the Alliance should organize and launch such an effort.

• What should be the overall purpose and thrust of a new Strategic Concept?
• What key issues and/or concepts need to be included?
• What should be the process and time frame for launching, conducting, and concluding this exercise?

Moderator: Dr. Hans Binnendijk, Director, Center for Technology and National Security Policy
Panelists: 
Mr. Kristian Fischer, Deputy Permanent Secretary of State for Defense, Denmark   
Ambassador Eberhard Pohl, Deputy Political Director, Federal Foreign Office, Germany