Bullet Point Summary of DSACT Keynote Address to JAPCC Conference 2009

 Introduction

• JAPCC doing a very important job for NATO and Nations
• Unique expertise and high representation from Nations exemplify valuable and important role of COEs in supporting transformation

NATO Today

• Alliance can look back on 60 successful years
• Threats have changed and NATO has extended its interests outside traditional areas of responsibility
• National perceptions are quite different
• Principle challenges facing NATO:  Collective Defence, Afghanistantransatlantic capability gap and the role that NATO wants to play as an actor in a highly complex security environment where global challenges require global responses
• Need to match ambition realistically with appropriate resources and capabilities

Multiple Futures Concept (MFC)

• Aim to explore future threats to the interests, values and populations of the Alliance
• Study provokes new demands for tools of prevention and response
• Military strength only one component of a much larger capability set
• Unpredictability and complexity of future security environment will strain Alliance‘s most powerful strengths
• Essential that Alliance continue to demonstrate its unity, strength and resolve
• Must maintain common understanding of what constitutes an attack how the Alliance would respond, including denial of access to resources, maritime commons and space, cyber attacks or spill over from regional conflicts
• To maintain security, we must develop better partnerships, work with international organizations to develop a comprehensive, interagency approach

Strategic Concept

• To address future challenges NATO will develop a new Strategic Concept by Autumn 2010, which recognizes challenging economic environment where resources will likely decrease
• Principle areas of concern:
• Traditional understanding of an Article 5 attack is being challenged but collective defence and deterrence must remain the cornerstone of the Alliance
• Need to increase collaboration with International Organisations

Transformation

• ACT and COEs are a tool that NATO and Nations can use to their benefit with great potential to improve capability development but ACT cannot be responsible for transformation as a whole
• Real change can only be ignited by consent of 28 Nations

Air and Space

• Use of Space is no longer the privilege of a few Nations
• Space based capabilities are already essential to the interests of the Alliance and access and freedom of action in Space is crucial for our security
• IMS just issues a Food for Thought paper to stimulate discussion and to evaluate key Space issues
• Space assets are scarce, high value and require C2 at an appropriate level – need to develop a considered Concept of NATO Operations in Space. 

Conclusion

• Issues of NATO today
• DSACT view of future security environment and drafting the Strategic Concept
• Highlighted problems and opportunities for NATO to influence National efforts and transform their forces
• Need to develop NATO Space C2 and CONOPS
• Thank JAPCC and other NATO COEs for the great work they are doing to promote the aims above 

 Complete Keynote Address