NATO chiefs of defense address security challenges in southern flank

BRUSSELS, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- NATO chiefs of defense addressed the challenging security environment on its southern flank, chairman of the NATO Military Committee Petr Pavel said Wednesday.

NATO's highest military authority also discussed security challenges, the mission in Afghanistan, command structure adaptation.

"We met with our wide network of partners to address issues of security and stability in Europe's southern neighborhood. This is one of the greatest transnational security challenges that we face," Pavel said at a press conference following the meetings.

"Our goal is to cooperate even more cohesively, all with the aim of improving stability in the Middle East and North Africa," he added.

The allied chiefs of defense also discussed the assistance to the U.S.-led Global Coalition against the Islamic State (IS) and NATO's role in Iraq.

Highlighting the coalition is transitioning from combat to stabilization, Pavel said, adding: "We deliberated how NATO could adapt our current activity within our training and capacity building initiative in Iraq, upon request by the Iraqi authorities."

NATO's Military Committee meets twice a year at the level of chiefs of defense to discuss NATO operations and missions and provide military advice for the North Atlantic Council. Enditem