Tunisia hosted the 17th periodic meeting of the chiefs of staff from the “ Defence” Initiative on Thursday, a security cooperation framework uniting five Maghreb and five European countries bordering the western Mediterranean.
Habib Dhif, Director General of Tunisia’s Defense Intelligence and Security Agency, presided over the meeting, emphasizing the mechanism’s importance as a “flexible and effective” tool for tackling shared security challenges. Key priorities identified include the fight against terrorism, transnational organized crime, irregular migration, and the protection of vital maritime routes.
Under Tunisia’s presidency, Mr. Dhif reaffirmed the country’s commitment to strengthening joint working instruments in a spirit of partnership and shared responsibility to ensure lasting stability in the western Mediterranean. Military representatives from all ten participating nations praised Tunisia’s active role and called for a comprehensive approach to consolidate partnerships.
The meeting concluded with the adoption of a joint declaration, in which member states committed to developing military cooperation mechanisms and introducing new working methods to preserve stability and peace in the region.
MK/ac/sf/lb/abj/APA