Partners’ security vital: US

North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has reiterated the alliance’s commitment to its partnership with the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI) launched in 2004 to promote long-term security cooperation with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

“The security of our ICI partners is of strategic importance to NATO. Through the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative, we have a unique platform where we discuss security issues of common concern,” Stoltenberg said. “Over the years, we have increased the quantity and the quality of our cooperation; and our NATO-ICI Regional Centre in Kuwait has helped NATO’s outreach to the Gulf Cooperation Council, Saudi Arabia and Oman.

It is the sovereign prerogative of these countries, ultimately, to decide how they want to move this process forward,” he added in an interview with Kuwait News agency (KUNA). Bahrain, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar have joined the ICI. “We can be proud of the past 15 years of partnership under the framework of the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative.

We have conducted a wide range of practical activities, from military training and education, to crisis management, and dealing with natural and man-made disasters,” he said.