Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi welcomed Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi and His Majesty King Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein of Jordan to Baghdad for a summit of regional leaders in June 2021. The leaders discussed a strategy for economic cooperation that Prime Minister al-Kadhimi calls New Levant. He wants to knit more closely the economies of Cairo, Baghdad and Amman. “The project invests in Egypt’s tremendous manpower, Iraq’s oil wealth, and Jordan’s geographical position, linking Iraq with Egypt,” Iraqi strategist Hussein Al-Jasser said. “Project New Levant could be the nucleus for a broader bloc, which may soon draw other Arab…
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UNIPATH STAFF Kazakhstan strengthened relations with NATO and United States Central Command (CENTCOM) in a series of meetings in the summer of 2021 that corresponded with the drawdown in Afghanistan. In September 2021, Margulan Baimukhan, head of the Kazakh delegation to NATO, presented his credentials to NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg. They discussed cooperation between Kazakhstan and NATO that included defense- and security-related domestic reforms enshrined in the Individual Partnership Action Plan program between Kazakhstan and NATO for 2022-2025. During the meeting, Baimukhan and Stoltenberg touched on the situation in Afghanistan and potential ways to extend humanitarian aid to the Afghan…
On the 30th anniversary of Uzbekistan’s independence, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken encouraged the country’s leaders to continue its role as a strong regional security partner. “We support Uzbekistan’s continued pursuit of bold reforms, including those in support of fundamental freedoms,” Blinken said in a statement for the September 2021 anniversary. He expressed continued U.S. interest in enhancing its strategic partnership with Uzbekistan to bolster regional security and stability, not least because of the instability in Afghanistan. In his statement, Blinken reiterated the U.S. donation of 3 million doses of vaccine to Uzbekistan to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. The…
UNIPATH STAFF Pakistan and Saudi Arabia announced cooperation on security issues relevant to both countries, including Afghanistan, the end to the civil war in Yemen and economic relations. In July 2021, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi hosted Saudi counterpart Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud for talks in Islamabad. “We have a very, very aligned view as toward the priority to regional stability, regional security, dialogue and resolving issues through dialogue, and we found that security is key,” Al Saud announced at the end of the visit. Some of the discussions entailed the recently created Saudi Pakistan Supreme Coordination Council…
Turkmenistan has stressed cooperation with the European Union in the fields of security, sustainable development and humanitarian aid. Those efforts intensified in December 2021 when Ashgabat hosted an international conference “Politics of Peace and Trust — the Basis of International Security, Stability and Development.” Turkmen Minister of Foreign Affairs Rashid Meredov used the occasion to hold diplomatic contacts with the EU special representative for Central Asia, Ambassador Terhi Hakala. In addition to ongoing projects focused on regional development, Turkmen and EU representatives discussed efforts to fight cybercrime and improve biological security after the recent COVID-19 crisis. A second meeting, with…
In a development that could reduce violence from years of civil war, an Omani delegation arrived in Sanaa in June 2021 to negotiate terms for a cease-fire between the legitimate Yemeni government and Houthi rebels. Houthi leaders tentatively embraced a United Nations proposal to enforce a cease-fire in exchange for the Yemeni government lifting a naval blockade. As part of a deal, Yemen would reopen Sanaa Airport and the Port of Hodeida. Martin Griffiths, U.N. special envoy for Yemen, expressed regret for his failure to mediate a lasting cease-fire during his three-year tenure. He told the U.N. Security Council he…
UNIPATH STAFF Kuwait commandos traveled to Turkey for a 10-day military exercise with a Turkish Special Operations unit in July 2021. The Kuwait 25th Commando Brigade, commanded by Col. Nasser Masoud Al Otaibi, sought to improve combat interoperability between the two countries. “The execution of this exercise comes as a continuation of joint military coordination to achieve more harmony, exchange experiences and unify efforts,” the Kuwait Army’s Moral Guidance Department announced. The Kuwait 25th Commando Brigade previously trained with Turkish forces in 2015. The nucleus of what would be the brigade was founded in 1960 by Brig. Gen. Mubarak…
The Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee signed a memorandum of understanding in July 2021 with the International Center for Sport Security (ICSS) to collaborate on security, safety planning and capacity building for 2022 FIFA World Cup. According to the memorandum, the ICSS will support the Supreme Committee in several key areas, including the creation of an overall master security concept for training and capacity building. The ICSS will ensure effective coordination and interoperability across various Qatari committees tasked with safety and security preparations and accommodations for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. “The ICSS’s goal is to help event organizers stage safer…
UNIPATH STAFF To advance peaceful coexistence in Egypt, a delegation from the Episcopal Church in Alexandria visited Al-Azhar in Cairo to promote the formation of a center for Islamic-Christian studies. Grand Imam Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, sheikh of Al-Azhar, praised the church for its sponsorship of Together for Egypt, a national spiritual project that included dialogue between imams and priests to create a culture of tolerance in Egyptian society. “We are all soldiers in the battle to defend our religions and our homeland as we are all equals in humanity,” Dr. Al-Tayeb told the delegation. The new Archbishop of the Episcopal/Anglican…
Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, Commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, U.S. 5th Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces; Rear Adm. Mohammed Yusuf Al-Asam, Commander of Royal Bahrain Naval Force; and Vice Adm. David Sa’ar Salama, Commander-in-Chief of the Israeli Navy We are honored to submit this article collectively because the seas unify us regardless of the uniform we wear. There is a well-known saying that goes: “Alone we are strong; together we are stronger.” It reflects our commitment to fostering an enduring maritime partnership built on a foundation of trust and a shared interest in maintaining security and stability. Exciting…