2024-02-21 13:20:04
“It is in the interest of our society to understand that investments in security are fundamental to the functioning of all socio-economic spheres. “Collective defense is the most effective mechanism allowing a fair distribution of burdens between allies and ensuring sustainable development of the member countries”. This was stated by Admiral Emil Eftimov today, February 21, at the opening of the annual conference of the Chief of Defense.
He emphasized that the Alliance and the democratic world are currently facing the most dangerous and unpredictable security environment since the Cold War. “Today’s new reality is identified with a heightened strategic standoff that brings to the fore multiple challenges to collective and national security and defense. The most important fundamental task of NATO for the effective protection and defense of the territory of the Allies, in accordance with Art. 5 of the Washington Treaty, takes on even greater significance. The unity, solidarity and cohesion of the member countries of the Alliance are the main center of our burden”, said Admiral Eftimov.
The Chief of Defense noted that the decisions taken during the summit in Vilnius are extremely important for strengthening the Union’s deterrent and defense potential, but also pose new challenges to our Armed Forces. “In this context, I would like to recall that Article 5 of the Washington Treaty is preceded by Article 3. It states that in order to more effectively achieve the goals of the treaty, the member states will independently or jointly maintain and build their individual or collective capacity to respond to an armed attack,” Admiral Eftimov pointed out.
This year’s conference theme is “Challenges to National Planning, Conducting and Assuring Operations in the Context of Alliance Defense Plans”. The focus is on the required capabilities of our Armed Forces to plan, conduct and sustain operations in the context of Alliance requirements. and the deterrence and defense tasks set in our region.To ensure the implementation of the Deterrence and Defense Concept and collective security, there must be synchronization between Union and national planning, provision of sufficient forces and conditions for further deployment, especially in the land domain .The forum seeks suggestions and answers on a range of issues arising from the alliance’s defense plans in almost all domains of joint operations.
This year, the conference is again attended by representatives from the NATO command structure and force structure. The guest is the Chief of Staff of the Allied Command, Admiral Joachim Rühle, and the Deputy Chief of Staff for Support of the Joint Forces Command Naples, Major General Wilhelm Grün, and the Chief of Staff of the Rapid Corps NATO deployment in Greece Major General Georgios Kalampokas.
The program of the event will include reports from the Defense Headquarters, commanders of various types of armed forces, national representatives in the command structures of NATO and the European Union, as well as representatives of departmental institutions in the field of defense and national security.