USSTRATCOM Works With NATO Allies, Academic Partners

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. – United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) further strengthened ties with NATO allies with engagements in six European countries May 23 to June 2, 2017, led by U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Clinton E. Crosier, USSTRATCOM director of plans and policy.

During the trip, Crosier met with senior government and military leaders from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, France, Germany and the U.K., and spoke to students and officials regarding USSTRATCOM’s Deterrence and Assurance Academic Alliance. 

"The relationship between U.S. Strategic Command and our NATO allies has never been stronger,” said Crosier. “Discussions with our allies are important, because our world is ever-more complex and an ever-more dangerous environment.”

Meeting with leaders in the Baltic nations, Crosier discussed many topics such as the Nimble Titan missile defense exercise, U.S. bomber aircraft missions in Europe, cyber operations and strategic deterrence in the 21st century. The engagements are part of USSTRATCOM’s continued commitment to strengthening relationships and collaboration with allies.

“Combined operations and a common understanding of space, missile defense and cyber operations contributes to strategic deterrence,” Crosier stated.

Crosier also spoke to more than 100 Baltic Defence College students from 14 nations on USSTRATCOM’s missions and emphasized the importance of strategic deterrence in the 21st century.

“USSTRATCOM works diligently with our allies to enhance strategic deterrence in the 21st century,” Crosier said. "We continually test our systems and capabilities to ensure they work on time, every time." 

He also extended a formal invitation for the Baltic Defence College to join USSTRATCOM’s Deterrence and Assurance Academic Alliance. Latvian National Armed Forces Maj. Gen. Andis Dilāns, commandant of Baltic Defence College, accepted the invitation to become the first non-U.S. academic institution to join.

Looking to further broaden academic participation, Crosier visited the National Defence Academy of Latvia Center for Security and Strategic Research for insights on nuclear doctrine and to accept plans for them to join the academic alliance.

“We rely on our academic alliance members to develop those concepts and understanding of where we’re going with strategic deterrence in the 21st century,” said Crosier. “Expanding to include allied academic institutions drives differing perspectives and insights vital to deterrence in a multi-polar world.”

In discussions with U.K. Ministry of Defence Academic Alliance faculty and students at King’s College, London, Crosier identified the importance of international collaboration and its crucial role in 21st century strategic deterrence. Continuing on that theme, he then spoke at the U.K. Space Conference about increasing cooperation in space situational awareness and space operations.

“Engagements like the ones during this trip are very important as they enable U.S. Strategic Command and our NATO allies to share ideas and perspectives as we continue to strengthen our relationships and address 21st century challenges,” said Crosier.

One of nine Department of Defense unified combatant commands, USSTRATCOM has global strategic missions assigned through the Unified Command Plan that include strategic deterrence, space operations, cyberspace operations, joint electronic warfare, global strike, missile defense, intelligence, and analysis and targeting.