Kuwait reaffirms pioneering role in NATO partnership and Crisis Management Training

Deputy Assistant Foreign Minister for Organizational Affairs and Minister Plenipotentiary Mohammed Al-Ameeri reaffirmed Kuwait’s leading role in regional security cooperation, highlighting that Kuwait was the first Gulf country to join NATO’s Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI) in 2004, alongside the UAE, Bahrain, and Qatar. This move, he said, reflects Kuwait’s early commitment to multilateral efforts in strengthening both regional and global security.

Al-Ameeri said this during a reception hosted by Bulgarian Ambassador to Kuwait, Dimitar Dimitrov, in honor of a visiting delegation from the NATO Centre of Excellence for Crisis Management and Disaster Response.

The event was attended by Undersecretary of the Ministry of Defense Sheikh Dr. Abdullah Al-Mishaal, as well as a number of ambassadors and accredited diplomats in Kuwait, reports Al-Jarida daily.

Al-Ameeri emphasized that Kuwait’s NATO Regional Center not only trains national cadres but also serves participants from GCC countries involved in the initiative, in addition to representatives from the Gulf Cooperation Council’s General Secretariat.

He noted that a recent training program—organized in collaboration with the Bulgarian team—marked the first joint effort in the field of crisis management, involving around 30 trainees from Kuwait’s Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Interior, the National Guard, and the General Fire Force, along with participants from Saudi Arabia and Oman.

This program, Al-Ameeri said, is part of a broader annual work plan launched last year, with activities continuing through December. He praised Kuwait’s growing cooperation with NATO training institutions in Europe, emphasizing the value of such collaborations in advancing regional security priorities.

Ambassador Dimitrov, for his part, lauded Kuwait’s leadership in regional security initiatives, particularly through its hosting of the NATO Regional Center. He described the center as a symbol of Kuwait’s firm commitment to fostering deeper NATO-GCC relations.

Dimitrov added that the recently launched course, organized by the Bulgarian-Hungarian Center of Excellence, marks a significant milestone in this partnership.

He highlighted that the course preparations began last year, coinciding with the 20th anniversary of Kuwait’s accession to the ICI. Dimitrov also expressed gratitude for the support provided by various Kuwaiti institutions, which enabled the inclusion of the Sofia Training Center in the regional program.

Nora Elise Beck, Head of the NATO Office at the Regional Cooperation Center, underscored the center’s growing reputation as a strategic cooperation hub. She noted that eight intensive training courses have been held since the beginning of 2025, with crisis management being one of the most in-demand topics.

Beck emphasized that training topics are selected in coordination with partner countries and praised the Bulgarian ambassador’s initiative for launching this new chapter of cooperation. She expressed optimism about expanding this type of training throughout the year.

Colonel Orlin Nikolov, Director of the NATO Centre of Excellence for Crisis Management and Disaster Response, stressed the importance of enhancing collective capacities to address cross-border and unconventional threats.

He highlighted the Mobile Training and Education Teams (METTs) initiative as a key tool that integrates theoretical and practical training within partner countries. Nikolov praised Kuwait’s efforts in humanitarian diplomacy and civil preparedness, calling Kuwait a “natural partner” whose strategic goals align with those of the center.

Through this cooperation, he added, regional resilience can be strengthened and best practices shared.