Mediterranean Dialogue Partner Countries discuss Intelligence with NATO
On 20 and 21 November 2018, the NATO Joint Intelligence and Security Division welcomed to the NATO Headquarters Intelligence experts from Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Mauritania and Morocco to the 16th Annual NATO-Mediterranean Dialogue Conference.
The two-day event provides a forum for participants to exchange their views and insights to broaden the understanding of the challenges in the Mediterranean region. The conference aims to reinforce the interaction between NATO and Mediterranean Dialogue Nations in the field of intelligence, building personal links and relationship within the intelligence community. Both participants from NATO Allies and from the 6 Partner Nations were invited by Major General Raul Escribano, Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Intelligence to reflect on the challenges and threats emanating from NATO’s Southern Flank.
In his Opening Remarks, Major General Escribano encouraged participants to share “their perspectives and unique regional knowledge and expertise. This is an opportunity to see the region, for a time, through different eyes. We know that solutions to complex problems are hard to define but conferences like this one, bring us closer to a solution”.
NATO understands that Transatlantic and Mediterranean security are inextricably linked. The Alliance is determined to implement a 360-degree approach to security. In addition to measures to reinforce the Alliance’s Eastern Flank, NATO has also strengthened its efforts in projecting stability and the fight against terrorism. It contributes to the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS with AWACS intelligence flights and training for Iraqi forces. The Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan will be reinforced with three thousand more trainers and the financial support to the Afghan Security Forces will be extended through 2024. NATO works with Partners in the region by providing advice, support and training.
Beyond the operational response, NATO has significantly improved its intelligence sharing to take into account all of NATO’s areas of concern including terrorist threats. In 2017, NATO established the Joint Intelligence and Security Division to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the interaction between NATO and the Intelligence and security communities. NATO also created the Hub for the South in Naples to help better monitor regional threats and coordinate efforts. But direct accounts of the experiences and views of partner countries affected by terrorism add greatly to help NATO refine the contribution that it makes to the global approach.
NATO’s Mediterranean Dialogue programme began in 1994. It brings together NATO Allies and Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Mauritania, Morocco, and Tunisia.