Report

Overview

At the invitation of Paolo Alli, President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, a delegate from the Defence and Security Committee (DSC) travelled to Washington, D.C. from January 20 to 23, 2017. The delegation included 26 parliamentarians from 16 NATO countries. Mr. Pierre Paul-Hus, Vice-Chair of the Defence and Security Committee, was the Canadian delegate.

The delegation began its visit by attending the inauguration of the 45th President of the United States of America, Donald J. Trump. The delegation was greeted by the Canadian Ambassador in Washington. The visit to the embassy gave the delegates the opportunity to strengthen ties with various guests in attendance.

Official program:

The schedule of activities for the three-day period included a visit to the United States Naval Academy (USNA) and a tour of the United States Capitol with former American NATO PA President Michael Turner. On the last day, the delegation attended a war gaming simulation presentation by RAND Corporation, followed by a meeting with experts from the United States Institute of Peace (USIP).

United States Naval Academy (USNA) (https://www.usna.edu/homepage.php)

Located in Annapolis, Maryland, since 1845, the USNA has trained more than 80,000 Marines. It is a major training institution for officers, and many foreigners participate in the program.

The delegation was welcomed by Vice Admiral Walter E. Carter, Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy.

Admiral Carter shared his perspective on the use of naval forces. Calculations need to go beyond the number of ships, taking capacity into account as well. Having larger ships and submarines and focusing on developing and using new technologies is key.

Submarines are becoming more and more significant, and the alliance’s attention should be turning to this threat. In addition, the arrival of the F-35 is a game changer that will bring military tools to a new level.

Responding to a question from a French representative about drones, Admiral Carter emphasized that self-piloted systems are becoming the future in the air and underwater.

In response to a question about the Russian threat, Admiral Carter said that the United States and its NATO partners are far stronger than Russia.

The delegation then listened to a presentation from Mark Reese from USNA’s Center for Regional Studies.

One USNA strategy is to train foreign officers such as Ukrainians. This gives USNA the opportunity to partner with nations that understand the Russian language.

RAND Corporation (http://www.rand.org/)

Before the presentation by the RAND Corporation began, the delegates had the opportunity to hear from John A. Heffern, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary at the US Department of State’s Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs. Mr. Heffern assured NATO member countries that he was determined to ensure that the organization would remain strong.

The presentation by the RAND Corporation was about simulated war games on the Russian threat to Europe’s eastern flank.

The recent aggression against Ukraine is reminiscent of the Cold War years.

The Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) feel particularly threatened by the presence of Russian troops near the border.

Currently, there are not enough NATO forces deployed to protect the Baltic States from Russian troop movements. Geography and distance would make movement difficult. As it stands, their borders cannot be defended using conventional means. Based on the results of the war games, the RAND experts presented us with various options that could be used to counter a Russian offensive.

United States Institute of Peace (USIP) (https://www.usip.org/)

USIP is an independent organization that receives funding from the US Congress. It was established 32 years ago by Ronald Reagan. Its primary objective is to provide follow-up on armed interventions.

Ambassador William Taylor is an executive at USIP, which has offices around the world.

The USIP mission is to prevent, mitigate and resolve violent conflicts around the world by engaging directly in conflict zones and providing analysis, education and resources to those working for peace.

At the round table, a number of USIP officials shared their concerns with the delegation.

Paul D. Hughes, Senior Advisor for International Security and Peacebuilding

He said that no one saw September 11, 2001, coming, and the aftermath of the Cold War led to a new dynamic, but tensions are now mounting again with Russia. Issues can often be traced to fragile states and cyber-threats are the newest form of threats.

He also said that American values are being threatened and that the international world order is the value model. Also, USIP partners with the UN to address issues in Africa.

Ambassador Taylor said he did not know how President Trump would respond to the request to invest 2% of GDP in defence. He said it is an old debate that has not been settled.

Joe Hewitt, Vice President for Policy, Learning and Strategy

The challenge of fragile states: USIP is looking into how it can get involved with fragile states.

Mr. Hewitt said it is a matter of ensuring that the social contract between the state and the population is upheld.

There are 50 countries that are considered to be fragile states. To engage effectively, it is important to be: selective, strategic, systematic and sustained

Candace Rondeaux, Senior Program Officer, Global Practice and Innovation

To address violent extremism and build peace, it requires: training local police; providing training for diplomats; and investing funds in analysis to improve understanding.

To close, the USIP members said they were reassured by the meetings they had had with the transition team for the new president.

Respectfully submitted,

Leona Alleslev, M.P.
Chair of the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association