The NATO Rapid Deployable Corps-Italy and the NATO Security Force Assistance Center of Excellence representatives have signed today in Rome a Memorandum of Cooperation regarding the partnership in the area of Security Force Assistance, in order to enhance their respective capacity and develop a consistent stability hub at international level.

This event underlines the importance of Security Force Assistance (SFA), a paramount function that improves, or directly supports, the development of local forces and their associated institution in crisis zones.

The purpose of this Memorandum of Cooperation is to establish a general framework within which the two NATO military bodies based in Italy agree to carry out cooperation and exchanges via a beneficial working relationship, enhancing the mutual sharing of their knowledge and expertise.

In particular this cooperation will pave the way to the participation of military personnel from the two staffs, in relevant joint and international activities as exercises, seminars and working groups.

In addition, the involvement of selected researchers and Subject Matter Experts in specific analysis and studies and the participation of trainees and instructors in educational and training courses will increase the capacity building skills among the military personnel.

The agreement signed is the final step of a process of collaboration between the NRDC-ITA and NATO SFA COE that started more than one year ago in Rome with the “1st Course on Tactical and Operational SFA Planning” aimed at training Staff Officers engaged in SFA planning within the Brigade and the Armed Forces Division commands.

Enhancing the Projecting Stability concept NATO’s structures are committed to prevent the development of a crisis that may affect the international security, with the continuum of the Alliance’s three core tasks complementarily contributing cooperative security, crisis management and collective defence, thereby supporting the overall Alliance policies for a safe and stable environment.