In support of NATO’s 2024 Washington Summit, Allied Command Transformation hosted several events focused on shaping the future of the Alliance by engaging young professionals and fostering understanding of NATO’s mission and values.
On July 8th, young leaders representing all thirty-two NATO nations joined for discussions and exchanges during the first-ever Model NATO Summit. Organized by NATO Allied Command Transformation and George Washington University, the 2024 Model NATO Summit featured young professionals hand selected by Allied embassies to represent each member nation in the Alliance.
“As we celebrate NATO’s 75th Anniversary, it’s clear that the Alliance’s strength lies not only in our military capabilities, but also in the shared values and collective wisdom of our people,” said General Philippe Lavigne, Supreme Allied Commander Transformation. “Both current and future leaders.”
The student event was designed to mirror the 2024 Washington NATO Summit where all 32 NATO Allies will issue the official Summit Declaration. This document communicates Allied values, priorities, and strategic intent. Just as NATO Nations have been preparing the content and language in advance of the 2024 Washington Summit Declaration, the young professionals participating in the Model NATO Summit also prepared for weeks ahead of time. This required coordination and communication leading up to the Model NATO Summit where they deliberated the strategic issues that affect the daily security of the Alliance. Specific attention was given to NATO’s on-going support to Ukraine, the Alliance’s ability to deter and defend against any aggressor and our growing network of global partnerships that stretch from Tokyo to Canberra.
In today’s dynamic geopolitical environment, fostering understanding and collaboration among future leaders about NATO’s work is a critical component of ensuring some of the best minds are invested in international security and stability. NATO Allied Command Transformation designs impactful “Youth Outreach” programmes, such as the Model NATO Summit, that not only educate but also inspire high school and university students to engage with the Alliance’s mission and values.
“NATO is committed to protecting our shared future, your future, and you are the future for this successful Alliance,” said Julien Deruffe, Political Advisor at NATO Allied Command Transformation. “By listening to your voices, NATO prepares and shapes future decision-makers to continue building a more informed and secure world. It also broadens the understanding of what you believe is worth protecting and fighting for.”
“The NATO Model Summit simulation is an opportunity for you to inform NATO leaders about how future generations see the Alliance’s way ahead,” said Deruffe.
Also included in the Model NATO Summit were the winners of the Allied Command Transformation 75th Anniversary Student Challenge, an original competition focused on the upcoming generation’s role in steering the Alliance’s path forward. As part of the challenge, the winning students proposed solutions that transform NATO to better address emerging security threats and protect the future. Their proposals included cyber adaptability in military operations, restructuring of NATO’s industrial base and strategic implications of economic cognitive attacks. The winners had engaging and dynamic discussions with senior leaders such as the Chief of Defence of the Czech Republic, Lieutenant General Karel Řehka, NATO Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, General Philippe Lavigne, NATO International Military Staff leadership and selected defence attachés based in Washington, D.C.
The 2024 Washington Summit is being hosted in the United States National Capital Region for the first time in 25 years.
Allied Command Transformation also hosted NATO’s Youth and Academic Night at George Washington University.
Students who participated in the Model NATO Summit attended the event in order to present their final product: the Model NATO Summit Declaration, which was deliberated and finalized earlier in the morning.
Additionally, academic professors, Hollywood screenwriters and content creators attended alongside NATO leadership.
NATO Allied Command Transformation plays a crucial role in shaping the future security landscape for today’s youth by addressing security challenges. One of its functions as NATO’s strategic warfare development command is to mentor and engage future generations, fostering their diverse talents and creating awareness of their potential within the Alliance. This approach allows Allied Command Transformation to grasp emerging trends, opportunities, and threats from a multi-generational perspective in an effort to prepare the Alliance for the future.
