Students sat around a table at the 2026 BISA/FCDO Model NATO

2026 annual BISA/FCDO Model NATO takes place in London

On Wednesday 25 February approximately 100 participants from 32 universities across the UK, Canada and France took part in the seventh annual BISA Model NATO. The event is run in partnership with the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and took place at its offices in London.

The 2026 event began with a welcome from Professor Mark Webber (University of Birmingham and Model NATO Academic Lead), followed by a virtual talk from UK Ambassador to NATO, Angus Lapsley, and Deputy UK Ambassador to NATO, Ingrid Southworth. They give students some top tips on negotiation skills, and how to get the most from the day.

Two thirds of the participating students sat on the Military Committee, where they were tasked with agreeing a detailed set of actions to be endorsed in a final declaration by a simulated North Atlantic Council - NATO’s highest authority. Each student had been given a NATO ally to represent and had done research into their country’s resources and political positions prior to the Model. They had also been given a briefing outlining the goals of the Model. The agenda of the day focussed on enhancing deterrence and defence to the east of the Alliance with each committee given the task of agreeing a statement that pointed towards this aim.

Joanne Hamer MBE (Director of Euro-Atlantic Security) addresses BISA Model NATO students

To conclude the event, Joanne Hamer MBE (Director of Euro-Atlantic Security) addressed the students and assisted with the presentation of delegation awards.

The winners were:

  • Outstanding Delegate in the North Atlantic Council: Canada (University of Sheffield)
  • Distinguished Delegate in the North Atlantic Council: Albania (Queens University Belfast)
  • Most Authentic Delegate in the North Atlantic Council: Denmark (University of Durham)
  • Outstanding Delegation in the Military Committee: Germany (University of Birmingham)
  • Most Authentic Delegation in the Military Committee: Estonia (University of Southampton)
  • Distinguished Delegation in the Military Committee: Albania (Queens University Belfast).

All students received a commemorative certificate for their participation in the event.

We are extremely grateful to Professor Mark Webber for his work in preparing the Model, and to the FCDO for continuing to partner with us.

To find out more about our Model NATO events, take a look at the Model NATO playlist on our YouTube channel.

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