The Senior Executive Seminar (SES) brings together senior military and civilian leaders to discuss the politico-military and security concerns of the Alliance. For its first iteration, the SES will share a one-day programme with the Generals, Flag Officers and Ambassadors' Course (GFOAC) under the overarching topic of “NATO at 75 and the Changing Security Landscape”, specifically focusing on NATO’s deterrence and defence in the face of the Russian threat. On the first day of the SES, the two audiences will be brought together at the NATO Defense College in order to enhance interaction and networking among them.
Participants will be able to explore key issues facing NATO in an academic environment, with the opportunity for a free exchange of ideas under the Chatham House Rule. A mix of internationally recognized academic experts and experienced senior NATO and diplomatic practitioners will present lectures on a broad variety of NATO-related strategic-level topics.
The second day is planned jointly by the NDC and the Aspen Institute Italy and will focus on the European perspective according to the Aspen method, which affords priority to debates behind closed doors, thus facilitating interpersonal relations and enabling the issues at hand to be discussed in a frank and open fashion.