NATO Official: Awaiting Enhanced Cooperation with Kuwait and GCC States in Four Vital Security Areas

Kuwait City, Oct 8 (KUNA) – The head of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) team at the NATO Regional Cooperation and Initiative Implementation (RCI) Center in Kuwait, Frans Bosma, affirmed the Alliance’s commitment to expanding cooperation with Kuwait and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries in four vital security areas.

Speaking to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) following the conclusion of the “Crisis Management and Disaster Response” course hosted by the center, Bosma stated that these security domains include countering unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), counter-terrorism, maritime security, and defense against chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats.

He added that the Alliance has begun implementing four major projects aimed at deepening security cooperation with regional countries and enhancing the exchange of expertise in addressing shared challenges. These projects align with the Alliance’s renewed direction to strengthen its partnerships with GCC states amid the evolving security developments and challenges in the region.

Bosma highlighted the importance of broadening cooperation to encompass all GCC countries, thereby serving the mutual interests of both sides. He commended Kuwait’s role in hosting the NATO Regional Cooperation and Initiative Implementation Center, describing it as a unique platform for enhancing dialogue, coordination, and expertise exchange between the Alliance and regional nations.

He noted that the center, which opened in 2017 and is preparing to celebrate its tenth anniversary next year, offers significant capacity to host experts and specialists from NATO and GCC countries, as well as to implement training programs and joint initiatives.

Bosma emphasized that cooperation between the Alliance and GCC countries is based on knowledge exchange and leveraging the accumulated expertise of both parties. He pointed out that regional countries possess valuable experience in handling security challenges and crisis management, which can be utilized alongside the Alliance’s expertise.

He explained that the center seeks to enhance mutual understanding and exchange best practices through training courses, political dialogues, interactive exercises, and tabletop simulations, benefiting both sides.

Regarding the “Crisis Management and Disaster Response” course, Bosma expressed his appreciation for the cooperation with the Bulgarian Center of Excellence for Crisis Management and Disaster Response, which delivered the training program for the second time after its participation last year. He affirmed that crisis management and disaster response represent a priority for all countries worldwide, particularly GCC states, given current regional circumstances, stressing the importance of developing capabilities and enhancing readiness to handle various emergencies.

For his part, the Director of the NATO Regional Cooperation and Initiative Implementation Center, Advisor Emad Al-Kandari, stated in a similar remark to KUNA the importance of joint training programs in developing regional capabilities and enhancing the exchange of expertise and knowledge in crisis management and disaster response.

Al-Kandari said that Kuwait’s hosting of these programs underscores its role as a key partner within the framework of the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative and reflects the Regional Center’s commitment to supporting and developing capabilities and enhancing cooperation with partner countries in various fields, keeping pace with developments and meeting needs.

He added that the “Crisis Management and Disaster Response” course, held from October 5 to 8 this year in collaboration with the Bulgarian Center of Excellence for Crisis Management and Disaster Response, saw the participation of 31 trainees from the GCC countries.

He clarified that the course aimed to enhance participants’ skills in crisis management and disaster response through the exchange of expertise and practical experiences, as well as discussions on planning and preparedness mechanisms, crisis handling, and mitigating their impacts, leading to the recovery phase. Al-Kandari commended the participants’ engagement during the course and their contributions to enriching discussions and interactive exercises, noting that this engagement helped achieve the program’s objectives and foster shared expertise that adds value to participants and can be leveraged in their professional fields. He emphasized the Center’s commitment to continuing to organize specialized training programs and activities in cooperation with relevant institutions in NATO member states, thereby contributing to enhanced cooperation and the exchange of knowledge and expertise with countries in the region. The course is part of a series of activities and programs organized by the NATO Regional Cooperation Centre and the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative in Kuwait, aimed at strengthening partnership and developing shared capacities in security, crisis management, and disaster response. (End) Y.T. / A.M.H.