NATO accepts Portuguese proposal to focus on Africa more closely

The NATO Member States agreed on including in the Vilnius Summit conclusions the Portuguese proposal for the Atlantic Alliance to focus more closely on its Southern flank, namely the African continent, announced the Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa in a statement when entering the meeting being held in the Lithuanian capital.

António Costa stated the summit kicked off with three good news. "First, the fact that the obstacles to […] Sweden joining were removed; second, the final statement accepted a proposal made by Portugal to focus significantly on the Southern flank"; and thirdly, "everyone’s unity in supporting Ukraine in its fight to uphold international law".

The inclusion on the Portuguese proposal will enable the 31 countries that are part of NATO to assess "the threats and the opportunities of the partnership" in the Southern flank, particularly the Near East, Sahel, and North Africa, showing that "they do not ignore the need to develop other partnerships and set up other cooperation opportunities".

NATO is to reflect on the policies to boost stability in these regions and present guidelines at the summit in Washington next year.

Portugal has been insisting with the 30 Member States (until Finland joined) for various years no won the need to have the Atlantic Alliance looking at the Southern flank, namely Africa, where terrorist and paramilitary groups have been destabilizing the region.