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Dunford to Discuss NATO Capabilities With Fellow Defense Chiefs

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NATO chiefs of defense will discuss Afghanistan, the NATO mission in Iraq, alliance efforts in Kosovo and other topics during a two-day meeting in Ljubljana, Slovenia this week.

Marine Corps Gen. Joe Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will meet the NATO Military Committee in a broad-ranging meeting today and tomorrow.

The group will discuss ongoing NATO operations and assess the overall effectiveness of the military alliance and progress made toward enhancing deterrence.

Troops flank a red carpet outside an ornate building entrance.
Slovenian Welcome
Members of the Slovenian Armed Forces wait for NATO representatives to arrive at the opening ceremony of the NATO Military Committee Conference in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Sept. 13, 2019.
Photo By: Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Dominique A. Pineiro, DOD
VIRIN: 190913-D-PB383-006D

British Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach, NATO's Military Committee chairman, will lead the discussion. Air Force Gen. Tod Wolters, commander of U.S. European Command and NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe, and French Air Force Gen. Andre Lantana, the Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, will support the committee chairman.

The meeting is a continuation of efforts to operationalize the alliance military strategy.

"Much like in the United States, we didn't have much competition in the 1990s, the need to be much more deliberate in the process of capability development, making assessments, developing concepts and strategy is what the focus is," Dunford said.

Dunford said there has been demonstrable progress in readiness, changes to the organization, and changes to the planning process. This is all in support of what the alliance called "360-degree security" — meaning, in addition to Russia, coming to terms with violent extremism to the South.

Man and woman shaking hands.
NATO Handshake
Marine Corps Gen. Joe Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, meets with U.S. Ambassador to Slovenia Lynda C. Blanchard before NATO’s Military Committee conference in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Sept. 13, 2019.
Photo By: Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Dominique A. Pineiro, DOD
VIRIN: 190913-D-PB383-001C

"The meetings tomorrow will be in four big areas all related to more comprehensive efforts to deter and defend and, broadly speaking, more comprehensive efforts to assess where we are today and develop the capabilities we need tomorrow," he said.

Slovenian Chief of the General Staff, Maj. Gen. Alenka Ermenc is hosting the event.  

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