Nato Life
NATO Forces 2020: A coherent set of deployable, interoperable and sustainable forces.
The efforts of the entire division are underpinned by a Divisional Support Section, which harmonises our work with that of other IS Divisions as well as the Private Office and ensures the smooth functioning of the Council’s Defence Policy and Planning Committee. This is our engine room. NSCM: So what defence policy issues are at the forefront today? Hüseyin Diriöz: The current policy context is marked by the gradual slowdown in the Alliance’s operational tempo, which my colleague Ambassador Stephen Evans from OPS division addressed in a recent issue of this magazine. This involves the transition from a NATO that is primarily focused on sustaining deployed operations to a NATO that is prepared to deter and defend against any threat to Alliance security by continuing to develop the whole range of necessary capabilities, as stipulated in the 2010 Strategic Concept. Another key factor is the prevailing environment of financial austerity, which means that Allies must achieve this shift to a readiness posture with fewer resources. This is a challenge that puts the Division at the centre of the conceptual debate about such issues as NATO Forces 2020 as well as the Smart Defence and the Connected Forces Initiatives, which form important means to achieve the goal of NATO Forces 2020, as well as Burden Sharing, the issue of Availability of capabilities for Alliance operations, and Green Defence. NSCM: This sounds like an ambitious agenda indeed. Could you elaborate a bit on these topics? Hüseyin Diriöz: The goal of NATO Forces 2020 was set by Heads of State and Government at the May 2012 Chicago Summit. It encapsulates the vision of our planning efforts: a coherent set of deployable, interoperable and sustainable forces equipped, trained, exercised and commanded so as to continue to ensure the Alliance meets its objectives. Smart Defence serves as a key enabler of NATO Forces 2020 by increasing efficiency in capability development, mainly through better prioritisation and enhanced multinational cooperation. At the same time the Connected Forces Initiative sets out to maintain the high level of interoperability between Allies’ armed forces, as well as those of partners, achieved in NATO-led operations. At the end of the day, however, the success of these initiatives all hinges upon the willingness of each Ally to invest sufficient resources in defence and thus shoulder an equitable share of the overall burden. NSCM: What impact has the economic crisis had on defence spending and burden sharing? Hüseyin Diriöz: Most Allies have been steadily reducing their defence spending since the end of the Cold War; the economic crisis has accelerated this trend. Currently only four Allies spend more than 2% of their Gross
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forces (Connected Forces Initiative) – moyens importants pour atteindre l’objectif des Forces de l’OTAN à l’horizon 2020 – le partage du fardeau, la disponibilité des capacités pour les opérations de l’Alliance ou la défense verte. NSCm : Le programme semble ambitieux, en effet. Pouvez-vous nous en dire plus ? Hüseyin Diriöz : L’objectif des Forces de l’OTAN à l’horizon 2020 a été fixé par les chefs d’État et de gouvernement au sommet de Chicago, en mai 2012. Il représente l’essence de notre travail de planification : un ensemble cohérent de forces déployables, interopérables et soutenables qui soient équipées, formées, entraînées et commandées de manière à continuer de permettre à l’Alliance d’atteindre ses objectifs. La défense intelligente contribue fortement à cet objectif en renforçant l’efficacité du développement capacitaire, principalement grâce à une priorisation optimisée et à une coopération multinationale accrue. Parallèlement, l’initiative d’interconnexion des forces vise à préserver le niveau élevé d’interopérabilité atteint, lors des opérations dirigées par l’OTAN, entre les forces