Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa announced that NATO member states agreed to include in the outcome of the summit in Lithuania a proposal led by Portugal calling for the alliance to pay greater attention to its southern flank, especially Africa.
“It’s a summit that begins with three good news, first and foremost the fact that barriers to entering Sweden have been removed…”Costa told reporters on Tuesday (July 11) minutes before the NATO summit in Vilnius.
“Secondly, the Final Communiqué approved a motion by Portugal to pay particular attention to the entire south side,” he added.
last ” good news “ east “Unity of all to support Ukraine in its struggle to defend international law”Mr. Costa continued.
Submitting this proposal would allow the 31 NATO member states to take stock Partnership threats and opportunities On the south side, especially with the Middle East, Sahel and North Africa region, which shows “They do not ignore the need to develop other partnerships and find other opportunities for cooperation.”
“It’s a point that was close to our hearts,” He completed. “We have been very insistent on this point, which is now included in the latest press release.”
He added that the aim is for NATO to reflect on this issue and present guidelines at next year’s summit in Washington.
For several years, Portugal and the other 30 NATO member states have insisted that the alliance should turn on its southern side, namely Africa, at a time when attention is focused on the flank due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
As for Ukraine’s support, doubts lingered on Tuesday about how member states would communicate their unequivocal support for the government in Kiev and Ukraine’s eventual NATO membership, without committing to a timetable.
Costa also said that the allies had already agreed on the language to be used in the statement The final version will be released very soon.
Prior to his remarks to reporters, Costa held a bilateral meeting with South Korean President Yoon Sok Yol, before he was joined by Portuguese Foreign Minister Joao Gomes Cravinho and Defense Minister Joao Gomes Cravinho Helena Carreras.
