NATO’s Stoltenberg formally opens NATO-Istanbul Cooperation Initiative Regional Centre

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Tuesday led the North Atlantic Council in formally opening the NATO-Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI) Regional Centre.  

Stoltenberg highlighted the centre’s potential in strengthening the partnership between NATO and Gulf partners in the fight against global terrorism.

“The partnerships we will strengthen through this Centre are vitally important to NATO, because the security of Gulf countries is directly linked to the security of all Allies,” Stoltenberg said. “The partnerships we will strengthen through this centre are vitally important to NATO, because the security of Gulf countries is directly linked to the security of all allies.”

Following the inauguration ceremony, the 28 members of the North Atlantic Council and the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative met to examine security challenges. Oman and the Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council were also in attendance in the meetings.

The secretary general also met with Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and the President of the Kuwait National Security Bureau, Sheikh Thamer Ali Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah.

Additionally, Stoltenberg met with Bahrain’s foreign minister Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohamed Al Khalifa and the Gulf Cooperation Council’s Secretary General Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani.