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ShareKUWAIT: Javier Colomina, NATO’s Special Representative for the Southern Neighborhood, emphasized that the Gulf region remains a top priority for NATO’s engagement with its southern neighborhood. Colomina, travelling to Kuwait for the first time in his new capacity, met high-level officials from Kuwait, including Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya. He also participated in an event organized by the NATO-Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI) Regional Centre on “Security cooperation, partnerships and NATO in light of an evolving geopolitical landscape in the Gulf.”
In his discussions with Kuwaiti officials, Colomina addressed key regional issues such as ongoing conflicts, terrorism, cybersecurity threats and emerging challenges like climate change, food security and energy security. He emphasized that developing joint approaches to these issues is essential for ensuring both regional and global stability.
Colomina reiterated that NATO seeks to enhance political dialogue with GCC countries, with particular focus on deepening ties with states outside the ICI — a key NATO outreach program launched to strengthen security collaboration with the Gulf. He emphasized that one of the main objectives of his visit was to explore ways to further increase the frequency and depth of political discussions with Gulf nations, particularly in light of Kuwait’s leadership of the 45th session of the GCC.
A centerpiece of Kuwait’s collaboration with NATO is the NATO-ICI Regional Center in Kuwait City, which Colomina hailed as a leading model for successful partnership between NATO and the Gulf region. The center serves as a hub for political dialogue, military cooperation, training and capacity-building efforts between NATO and its Gulf partners. Colomina noted that the center enables cooperation not only with ICI member states but also with a broader range of regional partners, enhancing the alliance’s engagement across multiple fields including security, defense, diplomacy and crisis management.
Colomina hailed the continued development of NATO-Kuwait relations and highlighted the wide scope of activities carried out by the NATO-ICI Regional Centre. “Kuwait was the first country to join the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative in 2004. Since then, it cooperates with NATO within this framework, which is based upon joint ownership, focuses on political dialogue and practical cooperation, and reflects the mutual interest of NATO and its partner countries in the Gulf region,” he said; adding that “together with high-visibility events, informal meetings and security ties developed with Gulf partners have enabled discussions on security-related issues of common interest, on the perceptions of NATO in the Gulf, as well as on ways to develop our partnership.”
The Special Representative also underscored that the “NATO-Istanbul Cooperation Initiative Centre – which was inaugurated in January 2017 – is an important regional hub for partnership and cooperation between NATO and the Gulf region, as it provides a forum to facilitate political dialogue among allies and their partners from the Gulf region, with the aims of discussing global and security matters, identifying opportunities for cooperation and developing a common understanding of security challenges, and; in 2024, for example, the Centre conducted activities on various topics, such as food security, maritime security and defense education.”
The visit provided an opportunity to take stock on the political dialogue and practical cooperation developed between NATO and Kuwait. “Kuwait and NATO participate in political consultations at various levels, with the aim of exchanging views on matters of shared interest in the Gulf region and the broader Middle East; Kuwait and NATO are also engaged in civil and military practical cooperation; for instance Kuwaiti civil and military personnel participate in many courses, trainings and activities offered by NATO to partners, in particular in the areas of civil emergency planning and disaster preparedness, non-proliferation and counter-terrorism,” the Special Representative said.
From the Kuwaiti side, Ambassador Abdulaziz Al-Jarallah, Assistant Foreign Minister for International Organizations, reaffirmed Kuwait’s strong and continuous commitment to its partnership with NATO. Al-Jarallah highlighted Kuwait’s early participation in the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative in 2004 and the significant milestone of hosting the NATO-ICI Regional Center in 2017 — a first for the region — as examples of Kuwait’s leadership and active engagement in international security cooperation.
Al-Jarallah noted that the center plays a critical role in hosting regular training sessions, workshops, and seminars in coordination with NATO officials and member states. These activities address not only traditional security concerns but also new global challenges that demand innovative and coordinated responses.
He stressed that Kuwait remains deeply committed to diplomacy, mediation, and preventive dialogue as primary tools for resolving international disputes and promoting peace. Kuwait’s foreign policy, he added, consistently prioritizes stability, peaceful coexistence, and constructive engagement with both regional neighbors and the international community.
Looking ahead, both sides affirmed the importance of maintaining and expanding high-level visits, political consultations, and practical cooperation between NATO and Kuwait. They agreed that sustained engagement would be vital for addressing shared challenges and advancing collective security and prosperity in the Gulf region and beyond. — Agencies
