Top NATO Leaders Meet in Copenhagen

to discuss Multiple Futures Project

NORFOLK, Va. – Alliance leaders, including the Secretary General, North Atlantic Council (NAC) and the Chairman of NATOÂ’s Military Committee (MC) meet in Copenhagen, Oct. 15-16, 2008, for the Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (SACT) Seminar.   The Seminar will provide the NAC and the MC with a platform for strategic debate about the long term security challenges, risks and threats facing the European and North American populations.  The basis for this discussion is SACTÂ’s Multiple Futures Project (MFP).

The aim of the MFP is to explore what the future could possibly look like 10-25 years from now, and create a framework that allows military planners to consider the implications of those possible futures.  The MFP encourages strategic dialogue as a vehicle for developing common, long-term strategic insight across the Alliance. These insights allow SACT to provide its best military advice to strategic decision makers in the Alliance and its nations.

The Alliance has agreed processes in place for defence planning and capability development. The MFP will not replace these more technically focussed processes, but it can inform them. The military advice generated through the MFP will support strategic decision makers in their consideration of policy options and their subsequent guidance to defense planning and capability development processes.

 NOTE TO MEDIA:  There will be a media availability conducted in English with the Danish Minister of Defense H.E. Søren Gade, NATO Chairman of the Military Committee Adm. Giampaolo Di Paola and SACT Gen. James Mattis, at 17:30 (CEST), Oct 15, at the conference site in the Marriott Hotel, Copenhagen.  Prior to the availability, interested media may also attend a background briefing on the Multiple Futures Project at 16:30 (CEST).  Media wishing to cover these events must register no later than 18:00 (CEST), 14 Oct, with SACT Public Affairs, U.S. Navy Master Chief Petty Officer Priscilla Kirsh, at priscilla.kirsh@act.nato.int There is more information on the MFP at: http://transnet.act.nato.int/WISE/Multiplefu/FSE