Members' Lecture - NATO at 60: A UK Perspective

A lecture by Lieutenant General David Bill, UK Military Representative to NATO and the EU.

Now 60 years old, NATO has already shown itself to be commendably adaptable, adjusting its horizon from its original focus of collective defence and turning its attention to the wider security agenda whilst enlarging its membership as opportunities arose. In an alliance of 28 nations, there are understandable differences in approach to defence and security policies. However, consensus remains a cornerstone of current NATO decision making that has stood it in good stead thus far.

This lecture will focus on the need for NATO to urgently adapt to modern day demands in a world ever more inter-related and increasingly insecure. Lieutenant General Bill will contend that NATO needs to become more deployable, more employable and more sustainable. He will address the need to manage its resources more efficiently and reform its structures and decision making. It must do all this whilst never losing sight of the comprehensive approach and its fundamental purpose of Collective Defence under Articles 4 and 5 of the Washington Treaty; whilst attending to its toughest test so far, in command of ISAF in Afghanistan.

Lieutenant General David Bill spent much of his early career serving in Northern Ireland and with the Queen's Gurkha Engineers in Hong Kong, Belize and Chatham.  His command appointments include 33 Independent Field Squadron; 39 Engineer Regiment; Commander Engineer Land Forces; and GOC UK Support Command (Germany).  His staff appointments have included Colonel Army Staff Duties in the UK Ministry of Defence and Brigadier General Staff at Land Forces. He has attended the Army Higher Command Staff Course and the Royal College of Defence Studies. He took up his current appointment in October 2008. Extra-murally he is Colonel of the Queen's Gurkha Engineers and a Colonel Commandant of the Royal Engineers.

An optional £10 sandwich lunch shall be available from 1215.

This event is open to RUSI members only. To become a member, please click here.

To register for this event, please e-mail Sabrina Downey, Events Director: sabrinad@rusi.org