Through Partnership, Cadets Represent at International Model NATO

By Cadet Joshua Buckingham '23

Earlier this semester, six Virginia Tech cadets, six civilian students, and two advisors traveled to Washington D.C. to attend the International Model NATO summit hosted by Howard University. This incredible opportunity was made possible by a partnership between the Center for European Union, Transatlantic, and Trans-European Space Studies - a Jean Monnet Center of Excellence, the Political Science department, and the Corps’ Rice Center for Leader Development. The Virginia Tech delegation, representing Greece and Turkey, countries whose ties have long been strained due to territorial claims, would engage with delegations from twenty-four other universities from around the world to push ideas and policies that best worked for their respective nations. Their end goal: create a draft paper that would pass the North Atlantic Council (NAC).

Cadets were chosen based on interest and experience related to international relations, with two of the cadets taking a class in preparation. In the weeks leading up to the summit, the Virginia Tech delegation met bi-weekly to go over questions and current world events.

On Feb. 15, the delegation made the journey to Washington D.C., using the five hours they had on the trip to study for the upcoming event. At the end of the travel day, the Virginia Tech delegation spent their time exploring the city and the National Mall.  

Due to the earthquakes in Turkey in the weeks prior to the summit, it was unclear at the time if the delegation would have the opportunity to visit the Turkish embassy, so all teams instead visited the Greek embassy. During the visit, cadets and students were able to interact with embassy officials who dealt in political affairs, asking questions ranging from environmental concerns to nuclear policy. Afterward, cadets had the privilege of running into the Greek defense attaché to the U.S. and took the opportunity to ask more about his service and his position on current world events. Out of curiosity, the delegation made its way to the Turkish embassy to take a group photo in front of it. The delegation was quickly spotted by a member of the embassy and were invited inside the compound. Cadets, not wanting to waste an opportunity to learn, asked as many questions as they could pertaining to Turkey’s position on global events and policies. The biggest takeaway for the delegation, however, was witnessing volunteers in action who were boxing up donations to be sent back to Turkey.  

Later that night, the Virginia Tech delegation traveled to Howard University to meet the other delegates, including those from the United States Air Force Academy, The Citadel, and the Royal Military College of Canada. After listening to opening remarks and the rules of the summit, the team became acquainted with cadets from different schools and later began preparing opening statements. The summit began on Feb. 17 with Virginia Tech cadets and students reporting to their respective committees: North Atlantic Council, Political, Military, Nuclear Planning Group, and Partnerships and Cooperative Security. Throughout both days, delegations debated issues impacting NATO and its partners, proposing and voting on legislation that would eventually go to the NAC. Teams worked into the evening hours and enjoyed networking with the other delegations after the sessions each day. 

After two days of deliberations, the delegates came together to witness the NAC voting on their draft legislation and reflected on the impact of the summit. 

“Through Model NATO, I learned about world issues and the intriguing inner workings of actual NATO. I got to build diplomacy skills and come to compromises with the other participating delegations. But personally, throughout the conference, I learned about myself, developed confidence, and honed my leadership skills through experience,” said Cadet Avery Cowan, a national security and foreign affairs major from India Company. 

Oscar Company’s Cadet Shannon Hutchens, an international affairs major, agreed. “The Model NATO summit reaffirmed the importance of developing interpersonal skills. Participants were asked to represent a different nation by adopting that nation’s perspective with the biases, pains, sentiments, and culture that make up the perspective. I represented Turkey in the Political Committee and found the Turkish perspective not only different from the American perspective but different from the perspectives of most NATO states.”