Mauritanian Officers visit NATO HQ
On 26 May 2014, a group of officers from the Mauritanian military academy visited NATO Headquarters for a series of briefings and discussions with officials from the Alliance's International Staff and International Military Staff.
In the context of the 20th anniversary of the Mediterranean Dialogue, topics discussed included NATO’s relations with Mauritania; the political and military cooperation under the Mediterranean Dialogue; NATO’s operations and NATO’s policies in the areas of emerging security challenges. Opportunities of cooperation in the areas of civil emergency planning and defence planning were also raised. During the visit, the group had the opportunity to meet, among others, with Mr. Nicola de Santis, Head of the Middle East and North Africa Section in NATO’s Political Affairs and Security Policy Division; with Michael Ruehle, Head of the Energy Security Section in the Emerging Security Challenges Division; with Mr. Jean-Claude Gagnon, senior Officer at the Planning Directorate in the Defence Policy and Planning Division, and with LtCol Henri Lambare of the Regional Partnership Branch at the Cooperation and Regional Security Division of the International Military Staff.
In the framework of the Defence Education Enhancement Programme (DEEP), the Mauritanian group also visited the Spanish Higher Staff College of The Armed Forces (ESFAS) in Madrid, Spain.
Mauritania is a member of NATO’s Mediterranean Dialogue from its establishement in December 1994.