CURRENT AFFAIRS

Detailed explanation-1: -Colombia will formally become the first Latin American Gobal Partner of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). According to a statement posted on NATOs website, cybersecurity, maritime security, terrorism and its links to organized crime, and building the capacities and capabilities of the Colombian armed forces.

Detailed explanation-2: -Since 1994, there has only been one partner in Latin America and the Caribbean, however, and that is Colombia. Colombia approached NATO in 2013 for initial engagement and, in 2017, upgraded to an individual partnership and cooperation program.

Detailed explanation-3: -NATO also cooperates with a range of countries which are not part of these regional partnership frameworks. Referred to as “partners across the globe”, they include Afghanistan1, Australia, Colombia, Iraq, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mongolia, New Zealand and Pakistan.

Detailed explanation-4: -At present, NATO has 30 members. In 1949, there were 12 founding members of the Alliance: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Detailed explanation-5: -Colombia became a NATO partner in 2017, the first in Latin America. In December 2021, Colombia and NATO agreed on a new partnership program, which laid the ground for enhanced cooperation in areas such as interoperability, building integrity, training and education, and climate change and security.