UNIPATH STAFF The Qatari Emiri Navy fortified its fleet with the ceremonial launch of a landing craft that can accommodate hundreds of troops on its broad deck. The landing craft tank (LCT) Fuwairit was officially completed by Turkey’s Anadolu Shipyard in September 2021. Named after a coastal village in Qatar, the LCT Fuwairit holds 260 fully equipped troops on its 400-square-meter deck. The landing craft, operated by 25 Sailors, is also equipped to carry three battle tanks and other vehicles. Qatar planned to accept delivery of the vessel — one of about six ships it is buying from Turkey —…
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UNIPATH STAFF Jordan and Qatar entered into a five-year security cooperation agreement in September 2021 that focuses on exchanging intelligence and technology to fight crime. The two countries will work to promote existing bilateral cooperation to combat all kinds of crimes: terrorism and related financing; organized crime; illicit trafficking in arms, ammunition, explosives and nuclear, radioactive, chemical and biological materials; human trafficking and illegal migration; smuggling, production and distribution of narcotics; money laundering; and counterfeiting of passports, currencies and other official documents. From an economic perspective, the agreement also emphasized joint protection of intellectual property, technological assets, information systems, and…
UNIPATH STAFF Egypt and Cyprus confirmed their close military partnership by successfully concluding the Ptolemy 2021 military exercise in September. The exercise included marksmanship practice, close quarters combat drill, simulated raids on terrorist hideouts and medical evacuation. The joint participation ensured that Egypt and Cyprus could test combat interoperability. Egypt and Cyprus enjoy robust military relations. Cypriot troops — including naval and special operations forces — were major players in the two-week multinational Bright Star exercise hosted by Egypt at Mohamed Naguib Military Base in September 2021. “Relations on a personal level and at the level of the Armed…
UNIPATH STAFF Bahrain ranked best among Arabic-speaking nations with the lowest incidence of money laundering, according to the Basel Anti-Money Laundering Index 2021. The Swiss-based organization based its ranking upon data provided by the Financial Action Task Force, Transparency International, the World Bank and the World Economic Forum. “The kingdom achieved 4.5 points and came in the second place after Israel, among the Middle Eastern countries in the area of combating money laundering, but came in first in the Arab world,” said Sheikh Salman bin Isa Al Khalifa, deputy governor of the Central Bank of Bahrain. In July 2021, Bahrain’s…
UNIPATH STAFF | Photos by Iraqi Ministry of Defense His complexion and distinctive features denote his Sumerian roots. Kindhearted, courageous and polite, he refines his words when he addresses his guest, embodying the spirit of Southern hospitality. His humility and courtesy do not stop him from providing insights on military science. The perception of him gained from the many battles he fought as a Soldier is that of a stubborn self-sacrificer with nothing on his mind other than victory. He is Lt. Gen. Qais Khalaf Rahima, the Iraqi Armed Forces deputy chief of staff for operations and commander of Joint…
On October 19, 2022, Gen. Michael “Erik” Kurilla, commander of U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM), conducted a visit aboard the USS West Virginia, a U.S. Navy Ohio-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine at an undisclosed location at sea in international waters in the Arabian Sea. Kurilla was joined on the USS West Virginia by Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet and U.S. Navy Central. During his visit onboard the submarine, Gen. Kurilla received a hands-on demonstration of the capabilities of the vessel, which operates globally under U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM). “I was thoroughly impressed with…
Strategic Communication and Protocol Branch in the Kuwait Chief of General Staff Directorate Photos by Kuwait Armed Forces Moral Guidance & Public Relations Before taking an oath to defend my country until the last drop of my blood, I want to emphasize that it is every Kuwaiti’s patriotic duty to protect his homeland. Under the guidance and leadership of His Highness Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmed Al Jabir Al Sabah, the emir of Kuwait and supreme commander of the Armed Forces, and His Highness Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal Al Ahmed Al Jabir Al Sabah, we shall fearlessly face threats to the…
I am pleased to accept the invitation of U.S. Central Command to write this editorial introducing the important theme of partnerships and peacekeeping. Qatar firmly believes in peace and coexistence between peoples, whether in one state or among the peoples of multiple countries. Therefore, the State of Qatar, represented by its prudent government, was and is still a pioneer in offering peace initiatives or directly contributing to international efforts aimed at prioritizing diplomatic solutions and rejecting regional and international conflicts. Qatar’s leadership has prided itself on its contributions to global peace through collective, multilateral action. We view such partnerships as the…
UNIPATH STAFF As herders tended their camels and goats on a calm summer morning, armed men in black hoods stormed an Egyptian village in pickup trucks. The terrorists seized villagers as hostages, planted banners atop buildings and placed sentries at a power station, school, water plant and clinic. It took a multinational team of highly skilled troops — including special operations forces from Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the United States, Greece and Cypress — to dislodge the invaders and restore life to normal. The rumble of two C-130 transport planes signaled the appearance of dozens of airborne troops who…
UNIPATH STAFF On the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the United States, dozens of security experts, including several current and former commanders at U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), attended a two-day conference contemplating the repercussions of that fateful day. What emerged was a crucial lesson for global security: If counterterrorism coalitions that exist now had existed in the 1990s, they might have prevented the 9/11 attacks and the rise of al-Qaida. In other words, multinational partners working together in their common interests represent a force for peace. The Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies hosted the Great…