Kuwait celebrates 22 years of non-NATO ally since designation by the US
It has been 22 years since the US designated Kuwait as a major strategic ally outside the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), in recognition of its pivotal role in supporting and maintaining security, peace, and stability in the region and the world.
This step represented a qualitative leap in the strategic partnership between the two countries and reinforced a legacy of close diplomatic relations dating back to 1951, when the US opened its first consulate in Kuwait City.
Designating Kuwait as a major non-NATO ally allows the country to acquire advanced military technology, along with other economic and scientific benefits, including preferential status and a long-term partnership with the US. The US granted Kuwait this status on April 1, 2004, following the visit of the late Amir, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, to the US in September 2003.
Kuwait has since become a strategic ally and key partner of the US due to its efforts in enhancing security and stability, resolving crises, and its leading role in mediation, bridging viewpoints, and reconciliation in several regional and international conflicts.
NATO consists of 32 member states, while the US designates 20 countries as major non-NATO allies, granting them special treatment across various fields.
This designation reflects Kuwait’s central role in maintaining peace and supporting security at both regional and international levels, as well as its joint efforts and intelligence coordination with the US.
It also highlights Kuwait’s humanitarian and relief efforts, which culminated in its designation as a global humanitarian center in 2014, reinforcing its role as a promoter of world peace.
Kuwait and the US continue to strengthen their relationship of nearly 60 years by working toward a more secure, strong, and stable shared future.
Their cooperation is developed through six main working groups under the strategic dialogue: defense and security, education, economy, consular affairs, customs and border security, in addition to cooperation on global issues.
Kuwait is widely recognized for its important roles over decades in reconciliation efforts and constructive diplomatic mediation between many countries, as well as its commitment to maintaining the security and stability of the Gulf region, the Middle East, and the world, and assisting countries during famines, crises, conflicts, wars, and natural disasters.
Relations between Kuwait and NATO have steadily developed since Kuwait joined the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI) in June 2004 as its first member.
In 2006, Kuwait hosted, as the first non-member country, a meeting of the North Atlantic Council on “NATO and the Gulf Countries: Facing Common Challenges through the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative.”
In 2012, Kuwait proposed hosting and operating the regional center for the ICI during a North Atlantic Council meeting in Brussels. In 2014, it joined the Individual Partnership and Cooperation Program.
Kuwait hosted meetings of NATO’s Political Advisory Group in 2015 and 2018, as well as a North Atlantic Council meeting marking the 15th anniversary of the initiative in December 2019. In 2016, Kuwait and NATO signed a Military Transit Agreement, and in January 2017, the NATO Regional Center in Kuwait was inaugurated.
In July 2024, former Foreign Minister Abdullah Al-Yahya visited Washington to attend the 75th anniversary celebrations of NATO on the sidelines of the alliance’s summit.
In May 2024, NATO Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Security Policy Boris Ruge visited Kuwait to enhance and further develop the NATO Regional Center and the ICI as an effective hub for cooperation and training.
The NATO Regional Center in Kuwait reflects the depth of the partnership and commitment to the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative, as well as its key role in strengthening communication between NATO and countries in the region.
The center plays a vital role in organizing workshops and specialized courses in defense strategies, counterterrorism, women’s empowerment, crisis management, and cybersecurity.
In 2025, Kuwait and NATO agreed on a regional action plan that includes more than 21 courses and activities, enhancing bilateral cooperation and capacity-building initiatives, as well as joint training programs to improve interoperability, modernize military capabilities, and address security threats.
On December 8, 2025, Kuwait hosted the 7th meeting of the ICI Advisory Group, attended by NATO’s Special Representative for the Southern Neighborhood, Javier Colomina, representatives of NATO countries involved in political consultations, and several heads of diplomatic missions in Kuwait.
At that meeting, then-Deputy Foreign Minister Ambassador Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, now Foreign Minister, reaffirmed Kuwait’s firm commitment to supporting constructive dialogue, enhancing multilateral cooperation, and strengthening regional security.
In January 2026, the first round of political and security dialogue between Kuwait and NATO was held at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, to explore ways to enhance cooperation in political, military, and security fields, ensure continuous coordination through the NATO Regional Center hosted by Kuwait, and discuss the latest regional and international developments.
— KUNA
