Advancing NATO CIMIC analysis and assessment capability: insights from tactical and strategic level exercises

Abstract

In an era of rising hybrid threats, the urbanisation of conflict, and the increasing involvement of civilian populations and infrastructure in operational theatres, Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) has become a critical function for integrating civil considerations into military activities. Given the growing complexity of the civil environment, a standardized, structured approach is essential to achieve a comprehensive understanding of that environment. In 2020, Supreme Headquarters Allied Power Europe (SHAPE) J9- CIMIC advanced the requirement to develop an Allied Command Operations (ACO)-wide NATO CIMIC Analysis and Assessment (NCAA) Capability (NCAAC). The NCAA Concept, developed by the Centre of Excellence for Civil-Military Cooperation(CCOE), provides clear guidelines and a standardized workflow to support systematic analysis of the civil environment. Assessing how the concept is implemented across command levels is necessary to refine it and identify capability gaps. This report evaluates NCAAC implementation at the tactical and strategic levels, drawing on observations, survey data, and interviews from two exercises: Steadfast Deterrence 2025 (strategic) and Joint Cooperation Exercise 2025 (tactical). With 28 survey responses and 27 interviews from both CIMIC and non-CIMIC personnel, the report captures perspectives from those producing the analysis and those using it, focusing on current practices and perceived effectiveness. The analysis highlighted the main challenges in the implementation of the NCAAC, including but not limited to: 1) lack of specialised personnel, 2) inadequate training on the NCAAC, 3) insufficient data and data collection methods, 4) limited (perceived) applicability of the NCAAC at the tactical and strategic level due to different structures and priorities. In addition, both exercises were conducted under Deterrence (Article 4) and Defence (Article 5) scenarios, characterized by high operational tempo and rapidly shifting priorities. This underscored the need for CIMIC to remain flexible while operating within clear structures—especially at the tactical level, where staff rotation is frequent. Despite these challenges, efforts to apply the NCAAC improved the relevance and actionability of CIMIC advice to decision-makers. Reliability and objectivity remain areas for improvement and can be strengthened through deeper institutionalization and better integration of the NCAAC. The following are the key recommendations emerging from the report: • Maintain and regularly update the NCAA Concept, SOPs, and training curriculum, including modules on data literacy, geospatial analysis, and responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (model fundamentals, limitations, bias, uncertainty, and human-in-the-loop practices). • Establish a living lessons-learned repository and sustain a practitioner network to capture, share, and iterate best practices. • Develop level-specific implementation guidelines for NCAAC at both strategic and tactical echelons. • Explore, pilot, and evaluate technology and AI capabilities that enable NCAAC implementation at the speed of relevance