NATO: Strengthening Cooperation with Kuwait and Gulf States in 4 Vital Security Areas

Francis Bosma, head of the NATO team at the NATO Regional Cooperation and Istanbul Initiative (NCII) Center in Kuwait, affirmed the Alliance’s commitment to expanding cooperation with Kuwait and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries in four vital security areas.

Speaking to KUNA on Thursday following the conclusion of the “Crisis Management and Disaster Response” course hosted by the center from the 5th to the 8th of this month, Bosma stated that these security domains include countering unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), counter-terrorism, maritime security, and defense against chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear 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 focus on strengthening its partnerships with GCC states amid the evolving security developments and challenges in the region.

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

Bosma noted that the center, which opened in 2017 and is preparing to celebrate its 10th anniversary next year, provides significant capacity to host experts and specialists from NATO and GCC countries and to implement training programs and joint initiatives.

Regarding the 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 stressed that crisis management and disaster response are priorities for all countries worldwide, particularly GCC states, given current regional conditions, emphasizing the importance of building capabilities and enhancing readiness to handle various emergencies.

For his part, Emad Al-Kandari, Director of the NATO Regional Cooperation and Istanbul Initiative Center, affirmed 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 stated that Kuwait’s hosting of these programs underscores its role as a key partner within the Istanbul Initiative and reflects the center’s commitment to supporting and developing capabilities and strengthening cooperation with partner countries across various fields, in line with developments and needs.

He added that the course saw the participation of 31 trainees from GCC countries and aimed to enhance participants’ skills in crisis management and disaster response through the exchange of expertise and practical experiences, as well as discussing planning and preparedness mechanisms, crisis handling, mitigating repercussions, and reaching the recovery stage.

He praised the participants’ engagement during the course and their contributions to enriching discussions and interactive exercises, noting that this interaction helped achieve the program’s objectives and acquire shared expertise that adds value to participants’ professional work.