NATO wants to include Saudi, Oman to Istanbul Cooperation Initiative

The head of the NATO’s Middle East and North Africa section, Nicolas de Santis, said on Monday that he hopes the regional centre for the NATO-Istanbul Cooperation Initiative in Kuwait will be able to include states such as Saudi Arabia and Oman.

De Santis told Kuwait’s KUNA news agency, on the sidelines of the third meeting for the Consultative Group of the ICI in Doha: “The important future role for the regional centre in Kuwait will be the development of cooperation between Kuwait and NATO” adding that “the centre will be a regional hub which contributes to strengthening relations with the ICI member states.”

The centre will also facilitate access to other interested countries such as Saudi Arabia and Oman, he added.

De Santis pointed out that NATO is aware of the great importance of cooperation with the State of Kuwait and is keen on developing it.

He also said the new regional centre in Kuwait will enhance cooperation with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

The Istanbul Cooperation Initiative which was launched during the NATO summit in Istanbul in 2004, aims to enhance bilateral security cooperation between NATO countries and their counterparts in the Middle East.