NATO Seeks to Intensify Cooperation with Sahel Region

The Spanish Capital, Madrid, hosts a summit of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on June 28-30.

During this summit, the heads of state and government of NATO member states will discuss their strategic directions over the next decade, as well as the role they can play in supporting the Sahel region in the face of terrorism and insecurity.

On the eve of the summit, NATO Secretary-General, Jens Stoltenberg, announced that the alliance will intensify its cooperation with the countries of the south, of which he singled out Mauritania.

In July 2021, NATO heads of state and government expressed their interest in the Sahel region for the first time, according to a senior NATO official, noting that “the deterioration of security in the Sahel is affecting the Mediterranean region.”

Mauritania “is the only country in the Sahel region that controls its territory and borders, a country with political and security stability,” said the senior NATO official.