Projecting stability to the south: the role of NATO Strategic Direction-South Hub

The threats emerging from the southern flank are becoming increasingly challenging and numerous, thus worrying Allies and, in particular, those member States directly facing the Mediterranean Sea. Italy, geographically located at the heart of Mare Nostrum, has always been the loudest voice in asking the Atlantic Alliance to focus with due attention on the security dynamics evolving in the southern front. Following Rome’s suggestion, Secretary General Stoltenberg launched in 2017 a new NATO center in charge of monitoring the Middle East, Northern and Sub-Saharan Africa: the NATO Strategic Direction-South Hub (NSD-S). The latter is part of a broader strategy aimed at projecting stability to the south through tailor-made policies and activities.