NATO - Topic: Comprehensive Approach

A ''Comprehensive Approach'' to crisis management

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Michael Baldwin from Virginia Beach, Va., shakes the hand of an elder in the village of Shesh Khala, June 1, Logar province, Afghanistan. Baldwin is assigned to the 401st Military Police Company, 720th MP Battalion, 89th MP Brigade.

NATO’s new Strategic Concept, adopted at the Lisbon Summit in November 2010, underlines that lessons learned from NATO operations show that effective crisis management calls for a comprehensive approach involving political, civilian and military instruments. Military means, although essential, are not enough on their own to meet the many complex challenges to Euro-Atlantic and international security. Allied leaders agreed at Lisbon to enhance NATO’s contribution to a comprehensive approach to crisis management as part of the international community’s effort and to improve NATO’s ability to contribute to stabilization and reconstruction.

“The comprehensive approach not only makes sense – it is necessary,” says NATO Secretary General Rasmussen. “NATO needs to work more closely with our civilian partners on the ground, and at a political level – especially the European Union and the United Nations.”

The effective implementation of a comprehensive approach requires all actors to contribute in a concerted effort, based on a shared sense of responsibility, openness and determination, taking into account their respective strengths, mandates and roles, as well as their decision-making autonomy.

NATO is improving its own crisis-management instruments and it has reached out to strengthen its ability to work with partner countries, international organizations, non-governmental organizations and local authorities. In particular, NATO is building closer partnerships with civilian actors that have experience and skills in areas such as institution building, development, governance, judiciary and police.

In March 2012, NATO agreed on an Updated List of Tasks to update its Comprehensive Approach Action Plan. These tasks are being implemented by a dedicated civilian-military task force that involves all relevant NATO bodies and commands.

Key areas of work

The implementation of NATO’s contribution to a Comprehensive Approach is a long-term effort. NATO is working to make improvements in several key areas of work:

Planning and conduct of operations

NATO takes full account of all military and non-military aspects of crisis management, and is working to improve practical cooperation at all levels with all relevant organizations and actors in the planning and conduct of operations. The Alliance promotes the clear definition of strategies and objectives amongst all relevant actors before launching an operation, as well as enhanced cooperative planning.

The Allies agree that, as a general rule, elements of stabilization and reconstruction are best undertaken by those actors and organizations that have the relevant expertise, mandate, and competence. However, there can be circumstances which may hamper other actors from undertaking these tasks, or undertaking them without support from NATO. To improve NATO’s contribution to a comprehensive approach and its ability to contribute, when required, to stabilization and reconstruction, Allies agreed to form an appropriate but modest civilian capability to interface more effectively with other actors and conduct appropriate planning in crisis management.

Lessons learned, training, education and exercises

Applying a comprehensive approach means a change of mindset. The Alliance is therefore emphasizing joint training of civilian and military personnel. This promotes the sharing of lessons learned and also helps build trust and confidence between NATO, its partners and other international and local actors. This, in turn, encourages better coordination.

Enhancing cooperation with external actors

Achieving lasting mutual understanding, trust, confidence and respect among the relevant organizations and actors will make their respective efforts more effective. Therefore, NATO is actively building closer links and liaison with relevant organizations and actors on a regular basis while respecting the autonomy of decision-making of each organization.

Public messaging

To be effective, a Comprehensive Approach must be complemented by sustained and coherent public messages. NATO’s information campaigns are substantiated by systematic and updated information, documenting progress in relevant areas.