From April 22 to 26, high-ranking leaders from Western Balkan countries were at the National Defense Academy in Vienna to complete the first module of the third “Regional Strategic Leadership Course”. The course was officially opened on April 23 by Defence Minister Klaudia Tanner and the Commandant of the National Defense Academy, Lieutenant General Erich Csitkovits.
The opening ceremony was attended by ambassadors and defense attachés from the participating countries – Austria, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia.
“The Regional Strategic Leadership Course is a milestone in our regional cooperation and a proof of our commitment to peace and stability in the Western Balkans. Working together with high-level leaders from different states not only strengthens our individual defense capabilities, but also fosters the mutual respect and trust that is essential for effective regional cooperation,” said Minister of Defense Klaudia Tanner at the opening ceremony.
Security policy lectures and strategic management process
As part of the course, international experts offered presentations on the topics of whole-of-government strategic approaches, blackouts, vulnerability of global supply chains, diplomacy and international organizations as well as climate change, which served as a basis for discussions among the participants. In addition, the guests were given an introduction to a strategic planning game on the topic of blackouts, which was carried out in modules 2 and 3. In particular, the model of a national strategy process was explained. Visits to the Austrian Parliament, the Austrian Institute for International Politics and the Erste Bank Campus were planned to complement the lectures and offered practical insights into the fields of politics and economics. The second module will take place in Ohrid, North Macedonia, in September and the third module in Belgrade, Serbia, in October.
Tanner added: “This course offers a unique platform for the exchange of best practices and joint solutions for transnational challenges. By working together on whole-of-government strategy processes, we are laying the foundation for long-term and sustainable security in our region. As part of our regional cooperation program, this course is an important step on our way to a more secure and prosperous future for all citizens of the Western Balkans.”
Background
The “Regional Strategic Leadership Course” is part of the regional cooperation program of the Ministry of Defence with the Western Balkan states. The initiative was launched on September 26, 2018 at a meeting of the defense ministers from Austria, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia. It was the first joint meeting of this kind since 2011. The will to cooperate was most recently reaffirmed at a summit held by Defense Minister Tanner together with her counterparts from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia in Krems on 14 September 2021.
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