20 February 2026 11:16 UTC · NATO · NATO News · Source · Email X Link

NATO says Istanbul meeting advances Southern Neighbourhood engagement

Key points

Agreed to strengthen partners' capabilities to address shared challenges
Assessed developments in Middle East, North Africa and Sahel regions

TL;DR

Javier Colomina convened senior Allied officials in Istanbul on 18 February 2026, organised with the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and attended by Türkiye’s Deputy Foreign Minister Z. Levent Gümrükçü.
Officials assessed developments in the Middle East, North Africa and the Sahel, focusing on terrorism and the influence of geostrategic competitors.
Officials agreed on the need to work with partners to strengthen regional partners’ capabilities and referenced the Southern Neighbourhood Action Plan adopted at the Washington Summit in 2024.

Original text

Create an account Reset password Already have an account? Log in From now on you can download videos from our website If you would also like to subscribe to the newsletter and receive our latest updates, click on the button below. Enter the email address you registered with and we will send you a code to reset your password. The password must be at least 12 characters long, no spaces, include upper/lowercase letters, numbers and symbols. Click the button to return to the page you were on and log in with your new password. 20 February 2026 1 MIN READ The NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for the Southern Neighbourhood, Javier Colomina, convened a meeting of senior Allied officials on the Southern Neighbourhood, on 18 February 2026 in Istanbul, Türkiye. Organised in cooperation with the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the meeting featured the participation of Türkiye’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Ambassador Z. Levent Gümrükçü. “Our gathering in Istanbul is a step forward in NATO’s commitment to stronger, more proactive, and results-driven engagement with our Southern partners,” Mr. Colomina said. “Since the adoption of the Southern Neighbourhood Action Plan at the Washington Summit in 2024, NATO has made significant strides in deepening political dialogue and expanding practical cooperation across the region. The Southern Neighbourhood remains a cornerstone of NATO’s 360-degree approach to security,” he added. During the meeting, officials assessed the latest developments in the Middle East, North Africa and Sahel regions, and the implications for Allied security. Discussions focused on the evolving dynamics shaping the regional security environment, in particular terrorism and the influence of geostrategic competitors. Officials agreed on the need to continue to work with partners in the region to strengthen their capabilities to more effectively address shared challenges and increase our security. Link was copied to clipboard

NATO says Istanbul meeting advances Southern Neighbourhood engagement

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