Category: Intelligence

Connecting cultures for a better understanding: Myriam’s impactful role

“If I were to leave a footprint in the world, it would be to raise cultural awareness and avoid misunderstandings that can lead to conflicts.”

Myriam Andaloro

Born and raised in Lebanon and having lived in Nigeria and now in Italy, Myriam has a natural ability to engage with people from different cultures and religions. Her international background and fascination with multiculturalism, identity and language made her interested in pursuing a career in the area of cultural consultancy and digital communications, which she currently carries out at the NATO Strategic Direction-South Hub, located within the Allied Joint Force Command Naples.

Myriam’s background and linguistic expertise are a valuable asset for the Hub’s mission to foster constructive relations between NATO and partners from the Middle East, North Africa, the Sahel, Sub-Sahara and adjacent areas. Myriam and her colleagues work to create a welcoming environment, where local experts share their unique perspectives in domains ranging from conflict prevention and security over countering terrorism, socio-economic developments and the Women, Peace and Security agenda to technology and innovation.

A few examples of roots of instability, which can spill over to NATO territory, are terrorism, radicalisation, human trafficking, crime, migration and environmental problems. Once a comprehensive picture of these security challenges is formed, the Alliance can better anticipate and, where possible, address challenging issues for the benefit of all.

Bridging NATO and its partners in the South through communication

As a cultural consultant for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, Myriam’s role is to identify and respect regional sensitivities. Myriam and her colleagues work to develop a deep understanding of the traditions of these countries, as well as their populations’ perceptions of NATO, to ensure that what is communicated on NATO’s behalf is understood.

When Myriam first joined the Hub, her work focused on French and Arabic translations, and on the cultural overview of the Hub’s media products. Her responsibility was to help dispel misconceptions about NATO and appropriately communicate with external key audiences in the Middle East, Africa, and Allied countries, such as military organisations, regional and international experts.  Over time, Myriam started to take on more multifaceted and dynamic responsibilities, and began working on digital content production, focusing on bolstering mutual understanding and respect.

 “Every day looks slightly different. Some days I am busy translating our reports and updating our website, and on other days I am working hard on creating products for our online or in-person events. I often participate in conferences, which is very enlightening because I get to meet all the impressive experts from the Middle East and Africa.”

While it takes years to positively impact people’s perceptions, Myriam argues that the work of the Hub has been continuously improving the relationship between the Alliance and experts in the South. Knowledge-sharing among them has increased, widening mutual understanding and the scope of future cooperation.

Storytelling for understanding: NATO’s commitment to accurate cultural representation

Recently, Myriam assisted NATO’s Allied Command Transformation in the production of a graphic novella titled “How we see the darkness”. The novella – which is based on the paper “Complex Conflicts in Africa” by Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Cincinnati Dr Alexander Thurston – underlines the necessity for external actors, including NATO, to exercise caution while seeking to build peace in Africa.

Myriam’s role in the project was to ensure that the fictional story depicted an accurate representation of its chosen setting. From examining if the characters were dressed appropriately, to checking whether the architectural style of the region was authentic and religious symbols were accurate, Myriam provided cultural guidance to the graphic contractors to avoid misrepresentations.

Additionally, Myriam translated the novella into both French and Arabic – making it available to non-English speaking audiences.

For Myriam, NATO “means the preservation of human rights and security”, two values that the Alliance has always defended. She aims to contribute to that mission by serving as one of NATO’s cultural experts for the South and is willing to help other Alliance bodies improve their knowledge of Middle Eastern and African countries, while promoting accurate and respectful communication.

At a special session of the North Atlantic Council, Mr Stoltenberg formally handed over to Secretary General Mark Rutte. “It is a great honour to be here and to take up the position of NATO Secretary General” Mr Rutte said before thanking Allies for entrusting him with the responsibility of guiding the Alliance in the coming years.

Secretary General Rutte outlined his three priorities for the Alliance. “The first is to keep NATO strong and ensure our defences remain effective and credible, against all threats” he began. “My second priority is to step up our support for Ukraine and bring it ever closer to NATO, because there can be no lasting security in Europe without a strong, independent Ukraine” he continued, adding that his “third priority is to strengthen our partnerships” in a more interconnected world.

The Secretary General also paid tribute to his predecessor describing his tenure as “exemplary” and adding that “today NATO is bigger, NATO is stronger and is more united than ever, that is in large part because of your leadership.”

In his farewell remarks Mr Stoltenberg commended Mr Rutte’s pragmatism and consensus-building skills while noting that “you don’t compromise on our values and principles.” He also praised his successor’s “personal commitment to our transatlantic bond. And your unwavering support for Ukraine.”

The handover was marked by the ceremonial passing of an historic gavel.

Deputy Chair of the Military Committee Lieutenant General Andrew M. Rohling praised Stoltenberg’s democratic leadership and the spirit of strength and unity he has instilled in Allied Nations.  “Mr. Secretary General, you have been a true leader of the Alliance. You have charted our political course, firmly safeguarding NATO’s moral compass, supported by your own unfailing moral compass. You brought nations together and you inspired them to be bigger than themselves”.

The second-longest serving Secretary General in NATO’s history, Jens Stoltenberg witnessed some of the most turbulent years in the Alliance’s history. The former Norwegian Prime Minister took office shortly after Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014. The following years saw major shifts in the security environment, especially with the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, terrorist attacks, the COVID-19 pandemic and the formal accession of four new NATO Allies – Montenegro, North Macedonia, Finland and Sweden.

During this period, Jens Stoltenberg maintained the NATO’s high morale while actively contributing to the strengthening of the Allied political-military dialogue. “Throughout your term in office, you have always showed the utmost respect and a keen understanding of the military profession. You have made sure the political and military sides of the house grew closer together. That is why the connection between the Military Committee and the North Atlantic Council is so crucial”, Lieutenant General Rohling said.

Rohling: “The Alliance owes you a great debt. As a numbers man, and a former Minister of Finance, I know that you hate debt. Especially debt that can never fully be repaid. So we promise you here, that we will attempt to pay back our debt by working together in the spirit of strength and unity, following the example that you have set.”

In his response, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated: “It is actually me that owes you a debt of gratitude. For all of your hard work and cooperation over these past ten years. NATO is now bigger, stronger and more ready than ever to face any challenge.”

“It has been a real privilege to serve as Secretary General and work closely with the Military Committee, the Allied Chiefs of Defence and the Military Representatives”, Jens Stoltenberg shared. “As much as it may be sad to stepdown, NATO’s resilience and strength is not dependent on individuals but on the collective”.

On Thursday (26 September), the Secretary General spoke at the Council on Foreign Relations. Reacting to Russia’s revised nuclear doctrine, he called Moscow’s rhetoric “dangerous and reckless” and said Russia, “cannot coerce us from supporting Ukraine.” He noted that NATO Allies continue to deliver unprecedented military support to Ukraine and that NATO is playing a critical role including through the command agreed at the Washington Summit in July. Mr Stoltenberg  said: “If you want a peaceful Europe, you need a stable Ukraine.  He outlined that ensuring peace for Ukraine means providing military support and credible security guarantees, noting that the most credible guarantee is NATO’s Article 5.

The Secretary General reflected on how the Alliance has been strengthening its defences since Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014, including with more battlegroups and high-readiness troops on the eastern flank, and increased defence investments. On partnerships, Mr. Stoltenberg highlighted that, faced with global challenges – such as terrorism, cyber-attacks and growing competition with China – it is essential to work ever more closely with partners that share our values, including in the Indo-Pacific​.

While in New York, Mr Stoltenberg attended a commemorative event marking the 20th anniversary of the NATO-Istanbul Cooperation Initiative. He also met leaders and senior officials including UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Crown Prince of Kuwait His Highness Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Sabah, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani and Chairman of US Defense Secretary’s Defense Innovation Board Mike Bloomberg. On Monday (23 September), the Secretary General was awarded the Concordia Leadership Award at their Annual Summit.

Participants included high level officials, such as NATO’s Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Operations, Burcu San, the Head of the NATO Liaison Office in Georgia, Alexander Vinnikov, and the Deputy Chief of the Georgian General Staff, Major General Zaza Chkhaidze, as well as commandants and senior enlisted leaders, and senior instructors of Schools for Non-Commissioned Officers from both NATO Allies and partners. Representatives from Malawi and Columbia also participated for the first time.

They discussed a range of issues, including the preparation of NCO specialists and the education of young generations of NCOs, as well as various initiatives run by NATO’s Defence Education Enhancement Programme in the domain of NCOs’ development. They also received an update from representatives of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on the role performed by their NCOs corps in defending against Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.

Non-commissioned officers are vital to the effectiveness and resilience of modern militaries, as they provide critical role-models for service members and support the development of military education systems.

This year’s conference in Georgia built on two previous conferences hosted by Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia, in 2022 and 2023, respectively. The Conference of NCO Academies and Schools was established by NATO’s DEEP Team as a platform to enable these institutions to communicate, synchronise curricula, and share best practices.

Read the full transcript of the conversation here.

Through the new project, contributors will develop a cyber platform that will allow organizations to train staff, test new technologies, and assess processes under pressure from simulated cyber-attacks. Over the next two years, the National Institute for Research and Development in Informatics – ICI Bucharest (Romania) and the Special Communication and Information Security State Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan will work together to bring this initiative to life. The aim is to help cyber defence teams better understand the vulnerabilities of Operational Technology systems so they can be better protected. These systems are the backbone of critical infrastructure such as power grids, water treatment plants, and transportation systems. 

While in Baku, the NATO team also organized an Information Day at ADA University. It focused on NATO’s scientific cooperation activities involving Azerbaijan, and on encouraging new ideas involving the local research community. Over 40 participants from academia, as well as from Azerbaijan’s Ministries of Foreign Affairs and of Defence participated in the event.

NATO’s SPS Programme has a history of cooperation with Azerbaijan. Over the years, this has included activities focused on neutralising toxic rocket fuel left behind from Soviet times, securing energy infrastructure against seismic hazards, protecting cyber networks, and developing sensors for the detection of landmines and explosives. 

Through its activities, the SPS Programme provides opportunities for academics, experts and officials in Azerbaijan, as well as other partner countries, to develop proposals for innovative scientific projects to be implemented with peers in NATO countries. Through these activities, participants exchange knowledge on security-related topics and build relationships that expand international scientific networks.