Solbiate Olona, May 7, 2024. Today, at the operational headquarters of NRDC-ITA, the second meeting between the heads of national bodies responsible for the development of operational capabilities took place, with the participation of representatives from NATO and Key Leaders of the NRDC-ITA HQ, which will lead the Allied Reaction Force (ARF) starting from July 1st
Lieutenant General Lorenzo D’Addario, Commander of NRDC-ITA, welcomed Rear Admiral Stefano Barbieri, Head of the General Planning Department of Italian Defence General Staff, who outlined the possible essential lines of activities and developments of the Framework Nations Concept (ITA-FNC).
The second Capability Director Meeting was attended by the representative of the Supreme Allied Command for Transformation (ACT), Commodore Ruud Schooen, and representatives of the seven nations, along with Italy, constituting the ITA-FNC (Albania, Austria, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Slovenia, and Hungary) and Bulgaria and Romania as observers. The meeting represented a valuable moment for sharing ideas and viewpoints, especially during a crucial period for the Alliance.
Within the structural transformations linked to NATO's New Force Model, NRDC-ITA will soon assume the lead of the Allied Reaction Force, which will be multinational and multidomain, offering further options to rapidly respond to threats and crises.
This new role will strengthen the relationships already established by the NATO Command in Milan, allowing it to cooperate with new partners and allies to share expertise and experiences, consolidating the principles of cohesion and legitimacy. NRDC-ITA's choice confirms Italy's commitment to the Alliance and to deterring and defending the Euro-Atlantic area.