VALLETTA, Malta - A NATO Delegation from Allied Command Operations, (ACO) led by Brigadier General Martin Remes, Assistant Chief of Staff Military Cooperation SHAPE, conducted an expert team visit to the Armed Forces of Malta from Jan. 23 to 25, 2024.
“NATO Military cooperation with the Armed Forces of Malta is following the strategic objectives set between NATO and the Republic of Malta, fully respecting Malta’s neutrality. We will continue to enhance our military cooperation utilising existing programmes and tools. Practical cooperation with partners in addressing common security challenges contributes to peace, stability and security from both international and regional perspectives,“ said Brigadier General Remes.
Brigadier General Martin Remes and Brigadier Clinton J O’Neill, Commander of the Armed Forces of Malta, also discussed in depth Maltese ambitions for defence reforms and force capability development, and how these could be linked to NATO.
During the visit, experts from SHAPE, Joint Force Command Naples and Theatre Component Commands provided the Armed Forces of Malta representatives comprehensive information about the NATO Operational Capabilities Concept Evaluation and Feedback (OCC E&F) programme and potential further development based upon Malta’s future ambitions.
In 2023, Malta announced its intention to join the OCC E&F Programme, which aims to improve the level of interoperability between NATO and Partner Nations, and the operational capability of Partner units. The programme enhances the operational relationship between the Alliance and Partners offering contributions to NATO led operations and to the NATO Response Force. 
A NATO Delegation from Allied Command Operations, led by Brigadier General Martin Remes, Assistant Chief of Staff Military Cooperation SHAPE, conducted an Expert Team Visit (ETV) to the Armed Forces of Malta from Jan. 23 to 25, 2024