NATO’s 2024 Alliance Warfare Development Conference, held December 8th to 10th 2024, in Norfolk, Virginia, wasn’t just another meeting – it was a high-stakes collision of minds, driven by one goal: keeping NATO ahead of the curve in a rapidly changing world.
Outpacing and Sharpening the Edge
This year’s theme was clear: Outpacing and Sharpening the Edge. NATO leaders from across the Alliance gathered to exchange bold ideas, challenge conventional thinking, and refine strategies for tomorrow’s threats.
It was a call to action – a reminder that NATO’s future is shaped by the creativity and boldness of its leaders today.
You are an essential part of the team. Together, we must think creatively, and your ideas are crucial to that process. But we also rely on you to challenge our thinking and push us to explore new perspectives.
– Admiral Pierre Vandier, Supreme Allied Commander Transformation
Innovating for the Future
The Alliance Warfare Development Conference 2024 was all about driving the transformation of NATO’s military capabilities. The conference pushed boundaries in four key areas to accelerate the Alliance’s evolution:
- The Alliance Warfare Development Conference provided an opportunity to inform the NATO audience of the latest updates regarding topics such as the Future Operating Environment study led by Allied Command Transformation.
- The Conference provided the opportunity to explore cutting edge ideas such as the next generation command and control concepts.
- During the Alliance Warfare Development Conference, NATO representatives exchanged ideas and the current issues they face.
- The Conference provided an opportunity to experiment with immersive and practical simulations and share approaches to immersive experimentation.
Key Takeaways
- Strategic Analysis and Foresight: NATO’s ability to anticipate threats and proactively shape its strategy is non-negotiable. Allied Command Transformation must therefore enhance its ability to assess, develop, plan and execute proactive deliberate military strategic shaping.
- Modelling & Simulation: Wargames are no longer just games. They’re evidence-based tools for real-time strategy, and NATO will build on these insights in 2025.
- Operational Innovation: From artificial intelligence to emerging technologies, NATO’s mindset is shifting from reacting to change, to driving it.
- Capability Delivery: NATO’s commitment to deterrence and defence has never been stronger. The focus is clear: ensuring NATO is ready for Multi-Domain Operations, combining air, maritime, land, space, and cyber into a seamless force.
What’s Next?
The 2024 Alliance Warfare Development Conference wasn’t about waiting for the future—it was about shaping it. With 2025 on the horizon, NATO is already setting the groundwork for tomorrow’s successes. As Admiral Vandier put it: NATO isn’t just preparing for the future, it is defining it.
