NATO to open first Middle East liaison office in Amman

Image credit: NATO

Among the highlights of the 2024 NATO Summit in Washington DC, allied countries adopted an action plan to bolster their strategic approach towards the Middle East, which includes the establishing of its first liaison office in Amman, Jordan.

The security alliance, noted in its statement, that this decision reflects the changing regional and global security landscape.

Additionally, this plan highlights NATO’s commitment to enhancing cooperation with Middle Eastern and North African partners, it added.

This announcement, comes after talks to establish such an office was first held at the NATO Summit in Vilnius in July 2023.

The NATO statement underscored the significance of the decision as a milestone in the strategic partnership between Jordan and the defence alliance and recognised the former’s role as a stabilising force in the region.

NATO secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg spoke about this development during a news conference at the summit. “Jordan is a long-standing, highly-valued NATO partner, and by establishing the NATO liaison office, we are elevating this partnership,” Stoltenberg said.

NATO footprint in the Middle East

The new office in Amman aims to strengthen political dialogue and practical cooperation between NATO and Jordan, as per the official release.

“This move demonstrates NATO’s commitment to addressing threats and opportunities arising from the Middle East and North Africa,” Stoltenberg added.

It will facilitate regular interactions with Jordanian authorities, contributing to a better understanding of regional contexts and the development of partnership programmes. These programmes will encompass strategic analysis, crisis management, public diplomacy, cyber security, and climate change initiatives.

The announcement coincides with NATO’s 75th anniversary celebrations in Washington. Discussions about the liaison office began in July last year, with Stoltenberg and King Abdullah II addressing the matter during their last meeting.

The Amman office, expected to focus on training, counter-terrorism, cyber security, and climate change, builds on nearly three decades of bilateral relations, particularly through the Mediterranean Dialogue. Jordan, a member since 1995, has cooperated with NATO forces in UN peacekeeping missions, including in Libya, Afghanistan, and Kosovo.

NATO also maintains a regional centre in Kuwait, part of the Istanbul Co-operation Initiative, inaugurated by Stoltenberg in 2017. The official opening date for the Amman office is yet to be announced.

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