NATO summit ends with session on terrorism, North Africa

MADRID

The three-day NATO summit in Madrid concluded on Thursday with a session on terrorism and North Africa.

The heads of state and government, and foreign and defense ministers of 30 NATO member countries attended the session held in the morning on the last day of the summit.

Türkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, and National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar also attended the session.

As Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi left Madrid on Wednesday night to return home due to wrangling between the coalition partners, Italian Defense Minister Lorenzo Guerini attended the concluding session.

At the opening of the session, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said North Africa and Sahel regions are facing interconnected security, demographic, economic, and political challenges.

These challenges, he said, have been aggravated by the impact of climate change and the food insecurity stemming from Russia's war on Ukraine.

"It is in our interest to continue working with our close partners in the South to fight shared challenges together.

"Today we will discuss how NATO can address the causes of instability and step up our efforts in the fight against terrorism," Stoltenberg said.

In the new Strategic Concept approved at the Madrid summit, NATO defined terrorism as the most direct threat to international security and peace.

Moreover, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, speaking to the press at the summit, said that they were "expecting a surprise" from Russia after Finland and Sweden received an invitation for NATO membership.

Kallas claimed that Russia could launch a hybrid war or cyberattacks.