On September 6, 2024, a group of students from the Colombian War College was welcomed to the NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. The group was briefed by the NATO International Military Staff on the role of NATO as a security provider and on practical cooperation with Colombia, in light of the outcomes of Washington Summit.
The Colombian War College visit, which took place under the auspices of NATO IMS Cooperative Security Division, started with speeches from the Director General of the International Military Staff, Lieutenant General Janusz Adamczak, and the Colombian Ambassador to Belgium, her excellency Camila Polo Florez.
While providing an overview of the current security environment, Lieutenant General Adamczak, highlighted the Alliance's quest for dialogue and practical cooperation with partner countries on security-related issues. "Because the threats we face today are global and interconnected, the Alliance's partnership with Colombia is crucial to respond effectively", DGIMS said. "NATO and Colombia have focused on common approaches to global security challenges such as terrorism and its links to organized crime, as well as disinformation and cyber threats". In turn, Ambassador Camila Polo Florez emphasized the benefits of NATO-Colombia cooperation since the country became a Global Partner for NATO in 2017.
Students from the International Geostrategic Practices of the Higher Military Studies Course were briefed on the NATO organization, the 2022 Strategic Concept and the recent outcomes of the Washington Summit, especially in regards to the Alliance's continuous support to Ukraine. Course participants were also briefed on the Alliance's main partnership policy and programmes, existing working tools and mechanisms for cooperation, while focusing on the specific case of Colombia.
The second portion of the programme, run by SHAPE, delved into the NATO Command Structure and practical military cooperation with Colombia.
NATO and Colombia have been engaging in dialogue and cooperation since 2013. In 2017, Colombia became one of NATO's global partners and, in 2021, the country signed a NATO Individual Tailored Partnerships Programme, marking the beginning of even closer cooperation. Today, the partnership covers a wide range of issues, including cyber security, terrorism, the fight against corruption and maritime security. Colombia provides demining training to NATO Allies and partner countries, while NATO is also supporting Colombia in its continuing efforts to develop its armed forces.
