On 20–21 April 2026, the 28th Steering Committee (SC) meeting of the NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence (NATO ENSEC COE) convened in Ingolstadt, Federal Republic of Germany, at the premises of the Military Engineering Centre of Excellence (MILENG COE). In a complex security environment marked by Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine, persistent hybrid and cyber threats to critical energy infrastructure, and growing instability in the Middle East impacting global energy supply routes, Allies used this meeting to further strengthen NATO’s energy security posture and to enhance collective resilience in the energy domain.
The 28th SC meeting was chaired by Mr. Taurimas Valys, Vice‑Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania, the Framework Nation of the NATO ENSEC COE. Under his leadership, representatives of Framework and Sponsoring Nations, Observers, and ENSEC COE staff reviewed the Programme of Work, alongside budgetary, legal, administrative and strategic communication issues essential for the Centre’s effective governance. The Programme of Work presentation covered completed, ongoing, and planned activities in areas such as critical energy infrastructure protection, operational energy support to forces, education and training, and support to NATO’s wider efforts on resilience and hybrid threat mitigation.
Participants received a comprehensive briefing on the MILENG COE mandate and activities, including its work on infrastructure support, force protection, standardisation, and the development of doctrine and capabilities that directly contribute to the resilience, redundancy and rapid repairability of energy‑relevant infrastructure in crisis and conflict. The discussions stressed that resilient, dispersed and well‑protected energy infrastructure, supported by robust military engineering capabilities, is indispensable for sustaining Alliance operations in contested environments. In line with established practice, Steering Committee members meet in person twice a year in a different Allied nation. The next SC meeting is planned to be held in Lithuania, further consolidating Lithuania’s role as Framework Nation and reaffirming Vilnius as a key NATO hub for energy security expertise. This decision reflects the Allies’ shared commitment to timely, forward‑looking planning, enhanced cooperation among NATO nations, and practical measures that ensure secure, resilient and sustainable energy support to Allied defence and deterrence in an increasingly contested strategic environment.
