Kazakhstan strengthened its strategic partnership with the United States during an official visit by Minister of Foreign Affairs Mukhtar Tleuberdi to Washington, D.C., in December 2019. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo expressed his desire that Kazakhstan play a significant role in restoring stability to Afghanistan and reintegrating it into the region. “Kazakhstan is a leader in Central Asia, and the U.S. relies on it as a regional partner,” Pompeo told Minister Tleuberdi. “We consider your country an important partner to maintain regional security.” Tleuberdi emphasized Kazakhstan’s commitment to stronger cooperation with the U.S., a commitment reinforced by a 2018…
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Since terrorism appeared in Sinai, Egyptian security forces have launched a series of successful anti-terror operations. In February 2020, Egyptian security forces repelled a terrorist attack targeting a military position in North Sinai, killing 10 militants, Egyptian Armed Forces spokesman Staff Col. Thamer Al-Rifai announced. It was the culmination of several operations over many months against the terrorist group Wilayat Sinai, the Egyptian branch of Daesh. In the six months after September 2019, security forces killed and arrested nearly 200 terrorists. Egypt also eliminated 376 explosives that terrorists planned to use against Soldiers and civilians. The assaults on the terrorists…
Qatar has announced its intention to maintain good political, trade, diplomatic and military relations with most of the world’s nations. The nation pays special attention to its relations with its Arab neighbors due, in part, to social, historical, cultural and religious values it shares with them. After more than two years of strained relations between Qatar and its partners on the Gulf Cooperation Council, participants at the 40th GCC summit in Riyadh in December 2019 made a push for reconciliation. His Highness Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani received an invitation from His Majesty Saudi King Salman…
His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein of Jordan consolidated three security agencies in December 2019, merging the General Directorate of the Gendarmerie Forces, the General Directorate of Civil Defense and the Public Security Directorate. The king urged Jordanian Prime Minister Dr. Omar Razzaz to complete the necessary legal and administrative work to achieve the merger, which will streamline the country’s efforts to ensure the safety of its growing population. In a letter to the prime minister, the king cited the need to stretch the nation’s budget and enhance the performance of security agencies to serve the citizenry. To…
Bahrain honored the foundation of the country’s defense forces with celebrations at several embassies around the world. Sheikh Hamoud bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, ambassador of Bahrain to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, held a reception at the embassy in Riyadh attended by prominent Saudi leaders. Bahraini Ambassador to the United Kingdom Shaikh Fawaz bin Mohammed Al Khalifa held a celebratory luncheon at the Army & Navy Club in London. That ceremony was attended by Tobias Ellwood, chairman of the British Parliament’s Defense Committee. The Bahrain Defense Force (BDF) was established in 1968 during the reign of His Majesty Sheikh…
Uzbekistan has reformed the way it identifies extremists, releasing lesser offenders from prison and focusing instead on radicals who advocate hatred and violence against society. Saidbek Azimov, representative of a parliamentary secretariat for human rights in Uzbekistan, announced in December 2019 that the State Security Service, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the prosecutor’s office plan to eliminate blacklists of people suspected of being involved in extremist religious organizations. The measure would be the latest in a series of actions that alter the Uzbek government’s approach to suspected extremists. After a wave of violence in 1999, blacklists were introduced to…
Since starting in the 1970s with a few thousand Soldiers possessing basic military skills, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Armed Forces has grown into a well-equipped military of 63,000 in 2020. But the country’s leaders have even greater ambitions: to make the Emirates a global leader in the production of advanced weaponry in fields such as cyber defense, missiles and jet propulsion. With that in mind, Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan launched a government-owned conglomerate called Edge in November 2019. Edge consolidates 25 entities with a combined 12,000 employees and $5 billion…
Dr. Khalid bin Mohammed Al Attiyah promotes stability through military cooperation BRIG. GEN. KHALID ALKHAYAREEN QATAR SENIOR NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE TO U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND I have the honor of writing this article highlighting a leader from my own country: a fighter pilot in the Qatari Air Force, an entrepreneur, and a politician who has held many positions of service in his country, and who, throughout his career, is known for his generosity, spontaneity and candor. I am speaking of Dr. Khalid bin Mohammed Al Attiyah, Qatar’s deputy prime minister and minister of state for defense affairs. Dr. Al Attiyah was appointed to his…
The late Sultan Qaboos was a bold leader who transformed Oman for the better UNIPATH STAFF The death of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said in January 2020 has left behind a legacy of service, security and stability that has benefited not just Oman but the entire region. And the inauguration of Haitham bin Tariq Al Said as the new sultan of Oman promises a continuation of that progress. He is Sultan Qaboos’ cousin, a seasoned diplomat and a former minister of heritage and culture. Arab and Western countries offered condolences for the death of Sultan Qaboos, praising his prudence…
The country’s Armed Forces updates its military doctrine to address hybrid warfare COL. OLIMJON SAMATOV, HEAD OF MILITARY INTELLIGENCE, UZBEKISTAN ARMED FORCES GENERAL STAFF Lt. Col. Umed Ahmedov, Uzbekistan Senior National Representative to U.S. Central Command Regional and global security experts suggest that hybrid operations constitute the foundation of modern geopolitical rivalry. Hybrid warfare is a strategy that seeks to wear down a nation without the direct confrontation of traditional, conventional warfare. A wide range of instruments are used to pursue this objective. They include regular military units and irregular forces. There are also activities carried out within the framework of…