NATO’s Maritime Command (MARCOM) recently dispatched a Mobile Training Team (MTT) to Kuwait to conduct a training course on maritime security from 2-6 June 2024, according to a press release.
The training, focused on maritime security, was held at the NATO-Istanbul Cooperation Initiative Regional Center (NIRC) in Kuwait.
This centre serves as a hub for cooperation between NATO and its Gulf Partners. Participants from Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council attended the course.
The MTT aims to share NATO’s expertise and experience with partner nations, tailoring training to their specific needs upon request. The Alliance say that feedback from attendees indicated that the course significantly enhanced their understanding of NATO operations and maritime security.
“The Istanbul Cooperation Initiative was launched in 2004. It fosters cooperation and deepens common understanding between NATO and its partners in the Middle East. The security ties developed with Gulf partners are important to transatlantic security,” stated a MARCOM representative.
Currently, four countries – Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates – fully participate in the ICI, while Oman and Saudi Arabia engage in selected activities. The initiative remains open to all Middle Eastern countries that support its objectives and principles.
Do OPEC member countries support NATO objectives and principles?
OPEC isn’t a military alliance and contains some rather iffy members and affiliates.
Iran, Russia, Libya, Venezuela, South Sudan
But you know that…Don’t you?
Don’t you?
Now if you had said GCC countries or countries that contribute assets to the various TF 150, 151, 152 and 153 units in the Gulf and Indian Ocean area that would have been relevant.