During the NATO summit in Madrid next week, host country Spain wants to discuss the threats to the southern flank of the military alliance in addition to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said on Wednesday.
Spain faces neighbours in North Africa who are at odds with each other. Defense Secretary Margarita Robles stressed that the war in Ukraine is also impacting countries south of NATO, such as famine-stricken Somalia. In addition, Russia is increasingly present in certain Sahel countries.
NATO wants to come out in Madrid with a united message regarding the Russian aggression. The question is whether Turkey will abandon its opposition to Finland and Sweden joining the alliance.