NATO Holds Multi-Domain Operations Conference in Split
The conference theme is “Convergence of Power: Enabling Multi-Domain Operations through Military and Non-Military Synchronisation”
The NATO Multi-Domain Operations Conference, organised by Allied Command Transformation (ACT) and the Croatian Armed Forces, is being held in Split from October 27 to 29, 2026.
The conference explores how NATO and its Allies can better integrate capabilities and effects across different domains while strengthening cooperation between military and non-military actors.
The conference was opened by Lieutenant General Tihomir Kundid, Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces General Staff and Vice Admiral Simon Asquith, Chief of Staff to Supreme Allied Commander Transformation.
Lieutenant General Kundid: Modern Warfare Requires Multi-Domain Operations
In his opening remarks, Lieutenant General Tihomir Kundid, Chief of the Croatian Armed Forces General Staff, emphasised that modern warfare is no longer confined to traditional battlefields, but requires the conduct of multi-domain operations through the simultaneous integration of the traditional domains of land, air and maritime, together with cyberspace and space.
The importance of multi-domain operations is determined by several key aspects of modern warfare, including the hybrid nature of conflicts, the speed of decision-making and the interconnectivity of capabilities.
Technological adaptation and coordination are therefore essential for all Allies. For this reason, the Croatian Armed Forces are actively participating in ACT activities to integrate multi-domain operations into operational practice through training and military exercises, and achieve full operational capability required for future operations.
Vice Admiral Asquith: The time to accelerate is now
Vice Admiral Simon Asquith, Chief of Staff to Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, highlighted that Multi-Domain Operations builds on joint operations by integrating space and cyberspace from the outset, strengthening cooperation with non-military actors, and enabling NATO to share information and act faster than its adversaries.
Quoting Robert Schuman, Vice Admiral Simon Asquith, Chief of Staff, Allied Command Transformation said, “‘World peace cannot be safeguarded without the making of creative efforts proportionate to the dangers which threaten it.’ That is the test for us today. Are our efforts truly proportionate to the dangers we face? The time to accelerate and think differently is now.
Multi-Domain Operations
Over three days, more than 200 participants from 30 nations explored four priorities for advancing NATO’s Multi-Domain Operations ambitions: accelerating digital transformation, integrating space and cyberspace, orchestrating activities across domains, and strengthening civil-military synchronization.
As a relatively new NATO concept, Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) involve the orchestration of military activities across all operational domains, synchronised with non-military activities, to enable the Alliance to generate the right effect at the right time.
The progress made towards becoming an MDO-enabled Alliance will ultimately depend on how effectively NATO can bring existing and emerging capabilities together in operations. Turning the discussions in Split into practical improvements in planning, training and interoperability will help strengthen the Alliance’s ability to deter aggression and defend Allied territory.