MED - Middle East Diplomatic

NATO to be member of the Global Coalition

by Roni Alasor

Brussels, 25 May 2017 - Middle East Diplomatic (MED) - NATO’s Heads of States and Government met in Brussels and discussed the current security and defence threats and challenges. The Alliance leaders also discussed burden-sharing and counter-terrorism, as well as the role of NATO and its values in the changing world. Finnaly, the Alliance leaders decided that NATO will be full member of the Global Coalition against ISIS.

During the NATO Summit and leaders meetings with the head of the EU institutions, the host country Belgium security forces did a very successfully work and could avoid any kind of possible terror attack.

In a press-conference following the summit, the NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced “NATO will become a full member of the Global Coalition against ISIS, in which all 28 Allies already take part. Being in the coalition does not mean that NATO will engage in combat. But it does send a strong signal of our commitment to fight global terrorism. And it will enable NATO to take part in political deliberations, including on the coordination of training and capacity building”.

Replying to a question of journalist Alan Shali from Kurdish Rudaw TV, about NATO’s future plans to support more effectively the Kurdish Peshmerga forces in the war against ISIS, Stoltenberg underlined that many important NATO Members (US, Germany, Canada, Norway, Belgium, Nederland) closely cooperate with Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) for training, weapon supplies and other military and security fields.

To strengthen the fight again terrorism, NATO will also establish a terrorism intelligence cell within their new Intelligence Division and will designate a senior NATO official as coordinator of the anti-terror action plan, added Stoltenberg.

Charles Michel, Prime Minister of host country Belgium, focused on the main values of NATO: “Freedom, peace, security, human rights, democracy, rule of law”.

Prime Minister Michel pointed out that security can be guaranteed only if countries work together: “Today 29 leaders of the free world reaffirm their wish to strive for peace and stability. And it is our responsibility to uphold this promise. A stronger European Union makes NATO stronger. And a stronger NATO makes the US and Canada, safer too. We are all in this together. Let’s show people around the world that by joining hands we provide safety and freedom. We believe in this”.

During the summit NATO also officially opened its new headquarters, alongside with the unveiling of a Berlin Wall Memorial by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the 9/11 and Article 5 Memorial unveiled by American President Donald Trump.

While ongoing NATO Summit, the Belgium`s First Lady Amélie Derbaudrenghien and the Norwegian Ambassador to Belgium and Deputy Head of Norway to EU, Ingrid Schulerud, wife of NATO Boss Jens Stoltenberg hosted the some partners of the NATO leaders visiting the famous Belgian surrealist Museum of Magritte. Later the first ladies paid a visit to the Royal Castel at Laken.