Role of NATO's partnerships discussed at annual symposium
Some 200 representatives of over 60 nations – including 25 Allies and partners from as far afield as Afghanistan, Japan and Saudi Arabia – attended the 15th annual symposium on NATO’s partnerships at the NATO School in Oberammergau, Germany, from 17 to 19 January.
The informal discussions were chaired by Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Security Policy, Ambassador Dirk Brengelmann and Assistant Secretary General for Emerging Security Challenges, Ambassador Gabor Iklody.
A key theme of this year's discussions was the challenges in implementing NATO's new Partnership Policy, adopted by Foreign Ministers in Berlin in April 2011. Participants also discussed common security challenges and the role of partnerships in addressing emerging security challenges, including cyber security and energy security.
The discussions constitute a valuable contribution to the debate on the future of NATO's partnership, as NATO prepares for its Summit meeting in Chicago.