From 9 to 11 April 2024, in Krakow, Poland, the NATO Special Operations Senior Leaders Conference. For Italy, in addition to the presence of the Commander of the COFS (Comando interforze per le Operazioni delle Forze Speciali), Rear Admiral Paolo Pezzuttiwe highlight the presence of the Parachutist Colonel Luigi Pulli, former Chief of Special Operations Section at the Army General Staff and Commander of the 185th RRAO Folgore (2021-2023), today Deputy COS for SOFCOM doctrine, training and concept development (Special Operation Command) NATO.
The biennial event was attended by high-level representatives from over 32 allied and partner nations of the Atlantic Alliance.
The meeting provides a platform to promote dialogue and collaboration between Special Operations Forces (SOF) commanders and senior enlisted commanders.
During the conference, topics to strengthen NATO's deterrence and defence capabilities were covered, including the implementation of Regional Plans in support of the Euro-Atlantic Deterrence and Defence Concept, the refinement of command and control strategies, the optimisation of force generation dynamics and the enhancement of national contributions to Atlantic Alliance objectives.
Maj. Gen. Sławomir Drumowicz, Commander of the Polish Special Forces, co-host of the conference, emphasised the importance of collective action in responding to evolving security challenges.
His words were echoed in the statements of the C.A. Gen. Antonio FletcherCommander, Allied Special Operations Forces Command, who emphasised the importance of proactive deterrence measures.
The conference emphasised the indispensable role of Special Operations Forces in preserving regional stability and deterring potential threats. Participants had intensive exchanges, sharing insights and best practices to improve interoperability and readiness across NATO's Special Operations Force entity.
With changing geopolitical dynamics, NATO's Special Operations community remains committed to enhancing readiness and resilience to protect the Euro-Atlantic region.
The results of the conference will shape future strategies and initiatives to strengthen NATO's deterrence and defence posture, ensuring readiness for large-scale operations to protect every border of the Alliance's territory in an uncertain world.
These biannual meetings of SOF Commanders and Senior Enlisted Leaders help promote SOF efforts, fostering interoperability between Allies and Partners and strengthening the collaborative spirit of the NATO Special Operations community.
Special Forces are a fundamental pillar within the Atlantic Alliance, making a crucial contribution to collective security and effective operations on an international scale.
Their versatility manifests itself in both asymmetric and symmetric conflicts, often acting as a vanguard and facilitating the action of conventional units, or preventing conflicts through sophisticated intelligence operations. Today more than ever, with war on Europe's doorstep, interoperability between the various NATO special forces units is of crucial importance for the security of the European continent.
