TheJakartaPost

Please Update your browser

Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.

Jakarta Post

Colombia to become first Latin American NATO 'global partner'

News Desk (Agence France-Presse)
Bogota
Sat, May 26, 2018

Share This Article

Change Size

Colombia to become first Latin American NATO 'global partner' From left: National Security Advisor H. R. McMaster, Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos, US Vice President Mike Pence, US President Donald Trump, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and US Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, take their seats with others for a dinner with Latin American and US leaders at the Palace Hotel during the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly on Sept. 18, 2017 in New York City. (Agence France -Presse/Brendan Smialowski)

C

olombia will next week formally become NATO's first Latin American "global partner," President Juan Manuel Santos announced Friday.

Santos, who won the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to end a half-century of armed conflict with the former rebel movement FARC, said the move would improve Colombia's image on the world stage.

"We will formalize in Brussels next week -- and this is very important -- Colombia's entry into NATO in the category of global partner. We will be the only country in Latin America with this privilege," the president said in a televised address.

In addition to Colombia, NATO lists Afghanistan, Australia, Iraq, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mongolia, New Zealand and Pakistan as "partners across the globe" or simply "global partners."

Each country "has developed an Individual Partnership Cooperation Program" with the 29-country US-led alliance, with many contributing actively to NATO missions.

Colombia and NATO reached a partnership deal in May 2017 following the conclusion of the peace accord with FARC, now a political party.

According to NATO's website areas of cooperation include cyber security, maritime security, terrorism and its links to organized crime, as well as building the capacities and capabilities of the Colombian armed forces.

{

Your Opinion Counts

Your thoughts matter - share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.

Enter at least 30 characters
0 / 30

Thank You

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.