Spain says NATO intervention in Mali not ruled out
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NATO might seek to intervene in Mali if it deemed it possible to lose another part of Africa to the 'hostile powers' it had outlined in its new Strategic Concept paper.
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Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares
Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares stated Thursday that NATO’s intervention in Mali is not ruled out, especially given the amendments of the Strategic Concept paper that took place earlier at the NATO summit in Madrid.
The alliance’s summit in Madrid concluded Russia a threat and China a strategic challenge. It also mentioned terrorism among the “hybrid threats” which allegedly hostile powers may take advantage of.
Read more: Mali's Ex-colonizer France is staying to 'fight terrorism'
Following this rhetoric, the Russian presence or even friendliness in Mali is in fact considered a threat to NATO. And as per this statement, Albares said that "If it were necessary and if it posed a threat to our security, we would do it," he added.
Earlier in Mali
The Russian Foreign Ministry said it supported Mali's intent to launch an investigation into suspected mass graves found near an army base that belonged to the French military until recently.
"We support the decision of the Malian authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances of this crime. We hope that those responsible will be found and brought to justice," the ministry said.
Moscow also said France should cooperate with Mali on the investigation, warning officials in France and the European Union not to shift the blame for the suspected killings on the Malian forces.
Read next: French failure in Mali, French elections & Russian affinity
