NATO Chiefs of Defence meet virtually for the first time in 2022

The primary aim of the meeting was to discuss in detail the strategic objectives of NATO member states and their planned military implementation in practice in 2022.

On the first day of the two-day online conference which started on Wednesday, the chiefs of defence reviewed the results achieved last year, and then a strategic report followed from NATO’s Supreme Allied Command Transformation (SACT). Hungarian soldiers are serving in 13 positions at the SACT, contributing to the continuously expanding tasks of the international organization.

The first day of sessions continued with a presentation of the Supreme Allied Commander Europe’s (SACEUR) strategic outlook, and closed with a discussion of NATO’s highly significant military strategic issues (Military Strategic Thinking).

The first session on the second day of the video conference was opened by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg’s address. The participants coordinated their positions on security and operational issues concerning the Alliance, and then made proposals for further development platforms of the cooperation among NATO member states.

During the second half of the session, from among the partner nations, the NATO Military Committee met with the defence chief of Ukraine to discuss the security situation on NATO’s eastern flank, and also with the defence chief of Georgia to discuss current issues of cooperation.

At the end of the two-day conference, the participants reaffirmed their commitment to the further development of the common security and defence policy.

The commander of the Hungarian Defence Forces assured the NATO chiefs of defence that Hungary continues to support the development of military-to-military relations and cooperation in all fields.

On Tuesday, 11 January, the day before the NATO Chiefs of Defence meeting, Lieutenant General Romulusz Ruszin-Szendi PhD held bilateral discussions – also via video conference – with NATO’s military leaders. During a virtual meeting with Admiral Robert Bauer, Chair of the NATO Military Committee, they discussed topical issues on the agenda of the NATO Military Committee meeting, the situation in Ukraine and Russia’s policy in the region.

The discussion with General Thierry Burkhard, Chief of Defence of the French Armed Forces focused on the security situation of the Sahel, the operational role undertaken by the Hungarian Defence Forces in the region (TAKUBA) and the synergies of military cooperation concerning the EU and NATO. During the discussions, the two sides agreed that the sharing of cross-border military lessons learned and proposals and the possibilities for cooperation are of outstanding importance in the interest of achieving common goals.