NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has appointed a group of independent experts to study the alliance’s relationship with countries and stakeholders in the Middle East, North Africa and Sahel regions.
Stoltenberg selected Ana Santos Pinto of Portugal to lead the group.
The organization designated the following as members:
- Katja Lindskov Jacobsen (Denmark)
- D. Elie Tenenbaum (France)
- Hermann Nicolai (Germany)
- Thanos Dokos (Greece)
- Brigadier General Alessio Nardi (Italy)
- Aleksandra Bukowska-McCabe (Poland)
- Professor Ana Santos Pinto (Portugal)
- Carlos Carnero González (Spain)
- Ambassador Refik Ali Onaner (Turkey)
- Ambassador Richard Norland (United States)
NATO said the group will support its plans to develop a new approach to improve its relationship with the southern regions.
According to NATO, the group would report on evolving developments in the alliance’s southern neighborhood and draft recommendations to enhance its future engagement strategies in the region.
The report is also expected to outline potential collaborative efforts with partner nations and international organizations in certain parts of Asia and Africa.
The expert panel will develop a report on the matter and submit it to the NATO chief by April next year.
During the alliance’s July summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, the member states agreed to formulate proposals supporting efforts to renew its southern region relationships. These proposals would be finalized in time for the next NATO Summit in Washington, D.C.