On 20 October 2021, the JALLC was honoured with a visit from the Portuguese Minister of National Defence, Dr. João Gomes Gravinho and the Director for National Defence Policy, Dr. Paulo Lorenço. The aim of the visit was for the Minister and Director to gain a deeper understanding of what the JALLC does for NATO and how our activities contribute to wider Alliance objectives.

 

 

 

After an office call with the JALLC’s Commander, Brigadier General Bogdan Cernat, the Minister and Director received a briefing from key members of the JALLC’s staff on the JALLC’s mission and its activities. 

The Minister and Director were also briefed on how the JALLC contributes to NATO’s transformation, highlighting some of the JALLC’s recent work, including the JALLC’s analysis of lessons from NATO’s experience of the COVID-19 pandemic and of NATO’s engagement in Afghanistan, as well as the JALLC’s contribution to ensuring that lessons are learned from NATO exercises.

 

The visit concluded with the customary signing of the book of honour and receipt of memorabilia and served to strengthen the excellent relationship between NATO and the JALLC’s Host Nation, Portugal.

The Minister thanked the JALLC on behalf of the Host Nation, noting the importance of information sharing and knowledge exchange within the Alliance.