Kuwait city: The NATO Istanbul Cooperation Initiative's (ICI) regional center is pivotal in enhancing collaboration between the alliance and its Gulf Arab partners, as stated by the Kuwait-based office's chief. The center has become a crucial element in fostering these relationships, especially evident in the year 2025, which marked a significant period of cooperation between NATO and Kuwait.
According to Kuwait News Agency, Emad Al-Kandari, Director of the NATO-ICI Regional Center, emphasized the importance of the center's continued operations to strengthen the trusted rapport between Kuwait and NATO. He mentioned the recent unveiling of the center's agenda for 2026, which aims to maintain an upward trend in the alliance's ties with regional partners. NATO's relationship with Kuwait spans over 21 years, with Kuwait prioritizing these ties and striving to elevate cooperation to higher levels in line with its plans and objectives for the current year.
Al-Kandari detailed that the center's future plans will focus on areas including maritime security, nuclear materials, civil emergency planning, and the protection of critical infrastructure. These focus areas are part of the broader strategy to ensure sustained cooperation between the alliance and the region.
Canada's ambassador to Kuwait, Tara Scheurwater, highlighted the significance of the newly unveiled strategy for 2026, stating that it sets forth essential objectives to stabilize and enhance cooperation between NATO and the wider region.