NATO Military Committee's visit the Joint Warfare Centre in Norway, Stavanger, March 2026
On 4-6 March 2026, the NATO Military Committee visited Allied Command Transformation (ACT) at the NATO's Joint Warfare Center (JWC) in Stavanger, Norway. The visit focused on the Alliance's short-term transformation priorities, ranging from capability development and delivery, to AI's application in the military decision-making.
Admiral Pierre Vandier, Supreme Allied Commander Transformation (SACT), welcomed the NATO Military Committee (MC), providing an insightful overview of the working session, from the Alliance's adaptation priorities to accelerating the adoption and delivery of new capabilities, and the central role of training that, "short of war, is all we have to make us better."
The introductory briefing by Major General Ruprecht von Butler, Commander JWC, highlighted the Center's clear and realistic vision in exercising the ACO Warfighting System, and simultaneously address NATO's evolving warfare development requirements, including the most realistic training environment, driving warfare development from concepts to execution.
During the sessions, the Military Committee gained concrete insights into the implementation of transformation priorities from both an operational and strategic perspective:
- Exploring how the JWC navigates the complexities involved in executing NATO's multi-domain exercises;
- Identifying new opportunities provided by the JWC's efforts in digitalizing the exercise environment;
- Understanding how the Joint Warfare Centre (JWC) enhances warfare development through NATO's Audacious Training initiative, emphasizing increased realism, agility, and opposing forces capabilities;
- Examining the ways in which the JWC evolves its mission support to align with transformation, focusing on workforce, infrastructure, and efficient financial management.
During the visit, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, the Chair of the NATO MC, said that ""There is no doubt that JWC here in Stavanger plays a central role in contributing to Alliance's adaptation and innovation, in the face of modern warfare's evolving demands. With challenges growing in scope and complexity, our mission here - to push forward NATO's technological edge - has never been more crucial." CMC also added that, in today's interconnected and unpredictable world, the ability to train effectively, enhance interoperability among Allied forces, and leverage cutting-edge technologies, like AI, is paramount. "With challenges growing in scope and sophistication, our mission here - to push forward NATO's technological edge - has never been more crucial," concluded CMC.
The JWC showcased Allied Command Transformation's ability to bridge strategic discussions with the operational environments where innovative approaches are tested, refined, and prepared for broader Alliance application. The visit by the MC also fostered a shared understanding regarding future capability priorities, and highlighted areas where coordinated Allied efforts, along with targeted investments, can deliver maximum operational impact.
The JWC was established on October 23, 2003, in Stavanger, Norway, subordinate to Allied Commander Transformation (ACT), in Norfolk, Virginia, US. The Centre attained full operational capability in 2006, and it is NATO's training focal point for full-spectrum joint operational- and strategic-level warfare.
