VILNIUS, Lithuania – NATO’s 2024 International Concept Development and Experimentation conference concluded this week, highlighting the importance of collaboration between military and non-military actors in achieving effective Multi-Domain Operations.
A Multi-Domain Approach:
This conference brought together 230 experts from 27 NATO member, and five partner, nations to discuss the evolving security landscape and the need for a comprehensive, multi-domain approach. By integrating capabilities across land, maritime, air, space, and cyber domains, NATO aims to enhance its ability to deter and respond to threats.
The Role of Non-Military Actors:
The conference emphasized the crucial role of non-military actors in achieving Multi-Domain Operations objectives. Government agencies, academia, industry, and international organizations bring unique perspectives and innovative solutions that can significantly contribute to NATO’s capabilities. By fostering collaboration with these actors, the Alliance can accelerate the development and deployment of cutting-edge technologies.
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Major General Devin Pepper, NATO Allied Command Transformation’s Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Plans and Policy, shared that “to address complex, multi-faceted challenges, Multi-Domain Operations must integrate cyber and space domains. It’s essential to interact with non-military actors, synchronize activities, and connect for better orchestration.”
Key Takeaways:
- Digital Transformation: Presentations, workshops, and demonstrations mapped out ways to interconnect with the civilian environment, of which one of the key tenets is the importance of Digital Transformation across NATO.
- Interconnectivity with Non-Military Actors: Their knowledge and resources are pivotal to enhancing information exchange, quick adaptation, and promoting sustainability.
- Leveraging Diverse Perspectives: Over the years, engagement with entities with divergent points-of-view has spawned task forces, tech-sharing platforms and knowledge-exchange programmes which are critical to foster innovation.
- Capacity Building: The conference emphasized the importance of capacity building (which includes development, readiness activities, and resource distribution initiatives), focusing on sustainability and opportunities to elevate non-military contributions in pursuit of a Multi-Domain Operations-enabled Alliance.
The 2024 International Concept Development and Experimentation conference demonstrated NATO’s commitment to innovation and collaboration. By fostering a network of experts and organizations, NATO can accelerate the development of Multi-Domain Operations capabilities and strengthen its defence and deterrence capabilities.
