NATO foreign ministers will meet on Thursday and Friday at the alliance's headquarters in Brussels to discuss preparations for the upcoming NATO summit scheduled for The Hague at the end of June.
اضافة اعلان
According to a NATO official, the meeting will focus on strengthening defense spending among allies, developing defense industrial capabilities, continuing support for Ukraine, and enhancing cooperation with partners in the Indo-Pacific region, including Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and the Republic of Korea.
The NATO official stated, "There will be an exchange of views on how to maintain momentum in increasing defense spending, how to restructure defense industrial production, as well as continuing our support for Ukraine and strengthening our cooperation with partners on issues of common interest."
The official also pointed out that the meeting follows two significant visits made by NATO Secretary General to the Western Balkans, where he visited Sarajevo and met with members of the Kosovo Force (KFOR) and the NATO Advisory and Liaison Team (NALT).
He added, "These visits are tangible proof that the Western Balkans remain a high priority on NATO's agenda, as a region of strategic importance, as confirmed by our leaders at the NATO summit in July last year. The security of the Western Balkans is crucial for our stability, and we will not allow it to be compromised."
The meeting will also feature a NATO-Ukraine Council session with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and the European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell.
The NATO ministers will also hold a meeting with representatives from partners in the Indo-Pacific region, as well as a session with the EU High Representative.
NATO Liaison Office in Jordan
In a related matter, the NATO official confirmed that the alliance is aware of the impact of instability and conflicts in the southern neighborhood on the security of member states. NATO is working through its partnerships in the region to enhance security and stability in the Middle East and Africa, contributing to peace and prosperity.
The official said, "At the Washington Summit, NATO leaders adopted an action plan aimed at enhancing our strategic approach to the southern neighborhood. We will soon open a NATO Liaison Office in Amman, which reflects NATO's commitment to strengthening cooperation with partners in the region."
The new office will facilitate dialogue and communication with Middle Eastern countries, as well as support regional security initiatives. The official also mentioned that NATO will continue to enhance existing cooperation tools.
Regarding the Middle East, the NATO official highlighted that the alliance continues to support stability in Iraq through its NATO Mission in Iraq (NMI), which provides non-combat advisory support to build security capacities.
He added, "The NATO Mission in Iraq helps build more sustainable, transparent, inclusive, and effective security institutions and armed forces, contributing to stability, combating terrorism, and preventing the return of ISIS."
The official emphasized that NATO is working to expand the mission at the request of the Iraqi government to include support for the Ministry of Interior and the Federal Police Command through advisory and capacity-building activities.
