On Friday 11 September chiefs of defence of NATO member states arrived in Istanbul, where NATO’s highest military authority, the Military Committee is meeting in Chiefs of Defence (CHODs) Session between 11 and 13 September 2015.

NATO chiefs of defence meet within this format once a year in order to discuss NATO’s high-priority strategic military issues, express their opinions and adopt a common position. The NATO Military Committee Conference is traditionally organised by a different member state every year, and this year is being hosted by Turkey.

The meeting is focusing on the implementation and progress of the Readiness Action Plan approved at the Wales summit in 2014, and the establishment of a military perspective on NATO’s future strategy, so that the organisation can react rapidly and decisively to new challenges. Another topic will be the possible future role of the Alliance in the Western Balkans, and Enduring Partnership following the Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan.

For the first time, the meeting at chiefs of defence level is being chaired by Gen. Petr Pavel, the current Chairman of the Military Committee, who took office on June 26. The conference is also being attended by General Philip Breedlove (Supreme Allied Commander Europe, SACEUR) and General Jean-Paul Paloméros (Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, SACT).

The Hungarian delegation is being led by military representative Maj.-Gen. László Domján, and its members were designated from the expert staff of the Hungarian Defence Forces Office of the Hungarian Military Representative to NATO.

(Ministry of Defence)