17th Periodic Meeting of the Chiefs of Staff of the Armies of the "5+5 Defense" Initiative Member Countries
The 17th periodic meeting of the chiefs of staff of the armies of the "5+5 Defense" initiative member countries was held this Thursday morning in Tunis, under the presidency of Tunisia.
Key Statements
In his speech, Habib Dhif, Director General of the Intelligence and Security Agency for Defense, praised the role of the "5+5 Defense" initiative as a flexible and effective mechanism for common action, crisis management, and response to growing security challenges. He cited the fight against terrorism, cross-border organized crime, irregular migration, and the protection of maritime navigation routes.
Tunisia's Commitment
He reaffirmed Tunisia's commitment, which is chairing the initiative this year, to continue efforts to develop working mechanisms and redouble joint efforts to strengthen cooperation. The official reiterated Tunisia's aspiration to continue working in a spirit of partnership, coordination, and effective complementarity to better protect the western Mediterranean, stating that collective will and shared responsibility are two essential factors for ensuring the success of the "5+5 Defense" initiative's objectives.
International Support
The chiefs of staff and heads of delegations of the participating member countries praised Tunisia's role in supporting the initiative and its concern to develop its action through constructive and fruitful cooperation. They called for the adoption of a comprehensive approach to activate the partnership between member countries and address common regional challenges, in the service of the interests of the region's peoples and in response to their aspirations.
Outcome
The meeting concluded with the adoption of a declaration, the main axes of which focus on the commitment of member states to support joint military cooperation mechanisms, the establishment of new working methods to strengthen partnerships in various fields, and the development of institutional relationships guaranteeing peace and security in the western Mediterranean.
