NATO’s Allied Command Transformation and the Virginia Arts Festival co-hosted the 2024 Model NATO Challenge at Virginia Wesleyan University on March 18th. This year, 32 students from 10 high schools across Hampton Roads were selected to participate in a fictitious geopolitical scenario, while confronting issues facing today’s NATO Alliance.
Following the selection process, student diplomats were assigned a mentor from the NATO Nation they were chosen to represent in the scenario – a military officer currently serving at NATO’s Allied Command Transformation in Norfolk, Virginia. Over the course of a month, the international mentors prepared their student diplomats for the challenge through organized study sessions focused on their country’s culture, military resources and political backgrounds.
The Political Advisor to the Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, Mr. Julien Deruffe, delivered engaging opening remarks for the event through a tangible metaphor that aptly described the art of diplomacy and consensus-based decision making, on which NATO is founded.
Mr. Deruffe stressed that “each NATO member carries historical baggage, cultural beliefs, and diverse priorities. It’s not about finding common ground for the sake of it, but about genuinely understanding these perspectives.” He concluded with a poignant reminder by encouraging the students to come up with creative solutions and to remember that “diplomacy is an art, not a math equation.”
During the challenge, student diplomats acted as ambassadors from each NATO nation during a mock session of NATO’s North Atlantic Council, which is the highest political decision-making body in the Alliance. The scenario they were presented involved a fictitious security threat to several NATO nations. The students engaged in respectful and intellectual discourse that conveyed the interests of the country they were representing. They took turns discussing a variety of geopolitical response options for how to address the threat and effectively utilized break periods to engage more closely with fellow “ambassadors” in order to reach consensus.
One of the unique aspects of this event is the support from the mentors for each student. During the scenario itself, students and mentors were allowed to pass hand-written notes back and forth as the situation developed. This allowed the young scholars the opportunity to seek advice on their potential next-steps as they crafted their responses to the council as the scenario unfolded.
The dialogue and varied perspectives each student communicated made for a lively and thought-provoking educational experience for all. While engaging in this scenario, the participants were also being judged and the top three student diplomats were awarded a monetary scholarship to be used towards their college education.
Claire Giglio, from Maury High School, represented Poland and earned the top prize. “Model NATO has significantly improved my understanding of international relations and diplomacy,” she said, “by providing me the opportunity to simulate a North Atlantic Council session. Additionally, the debates and discussions within this experience allowed me to collaborate with fellow students which has further developed my communication and teamwork skills.”
In second place, Desai Cyrus, from Cape Henry Collegiate, represented Albania and shared that “Model NATO provided me my first step into the world of international relations and it has inspired a passion within me to pursue a career in diplomacy. Being given the opportunity to work with an officer from an allied country and culture has given me an understanding of exactly how we make this world a safer, more harmonious place.”
Meanwhile, the student diplomat who represented Belgium earned the third place prize, Vantwest Kenul, from Princess Anne High School, expressed that “as an aspiring Naval Officer, I have always been fascinated with America’s partnerships with our NATO allies. I am extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to participate and learn from our dedicated military mentors on the importance of unity in our diverse Alliance.”
The 32 young scholars, selected through a competitive application process, possess excellent understanding and astute appreciation for the intricate dynamics of geopolitics. These student diplomats, chosen from a pool of exceptional candidates, represent the vanguard of tomorrow’s leadership and diplomatic corps. With their keen interest and insightful grasp of global affairs at such young ages, they are poised to tackle the intricate challenges facing the international community with fresh perspectives and innovative solutions.
Each year, NATO’s Allied Command Transformation and the Virginia Arts Festival host the Model NATO Challenge for local high school students as a part of the preparations for the annual Norfolk NATO Festival which celebrates the connection between this local NATO command and the local community.
