OTTAWA — Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne is meeting his NATO counterparts this morning to discuss the alliance's response to the COVID-19 crisis while it continues to face daunting global security challenges. Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Wednesday the alliance has made the necessary adjustments to address Russian military manoeuvres close to NATO's borders. They will also be looking stepping up the NATO training mission in Iraq and strengthening the alliance's partnerships in the Middle East, North Africa and Afghanistan, the alliance says in a statement today. "Allies continue to stand together and support each other in the pandemic, through different NATO arrangements, as well as bilaterally." "The COVID-19 pandemic is a test for all of us and highlights the crucial role NATO continues to play," Champagne says in a statement.

Source: The North Africa Journal April 02, 2020 15:33 UTC