NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced the appointment of Spanish diplomat Javier Colomina as Special Representative for the Southern Neighbourhood. Colomina’s focus is to address the instability in the region, from Iraq to the Sahel, by emphasizing issues like the Arab-Israeli conflict, terrorism, immigration, and climate change.
In an interview, Colomina highlighted the importance of NATO’s presence in the Southern flank and stressed the need for a strategic approach. He aims to strengthen cooperation with the countries in the South, incorporate their issues into NATO’s priorities, and emphasize continuous focus on the region.
Colomina also discussed NATO’s role in various conflicts, including in Ukraine and Gaza, emphasizing the importance of proportionate responses and international cooperation. He addressed the challenges in the Sahel region and NATO’s approach to working with regional partners while respecting democratic principles.
Overall, Colomina’s appointment signals NATO’s commitment to addressing the complex security challenges in the Southern Neighbourhood region and working towards sustainable solutions in collaboration with partner countries and organizations.