Brussels: Bahrain is keen on promoting partnership with NATO within the framework of the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative, says Dr. Shaikh Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for International Affairs.
This came as Shaikh Abdullah met with Giovanni Romani, the Head of the NATO Middle East and North Africa Section of the Political Affairs and Security Policy Division and praised the great efforts made by the alliance in maintaining international peace and security and confronting traditional and emerging threats.
Shaikh Abdullah noted the constructive and positive results of the two previous version of the Individual Partnership and Cooperation Programme between Bahrain and NATO, especially in the areas of political and diplomatic cooperation, and the exchange of experiences in defence and security fields.
Shaikh Abdullah said the third version of the cooperation programme for the years 2021 – 2023 would focus on promoting cooperation between the two sides in the fields of capacity building and providing specific training opportunities.
He reviewed Bahrain’s efforts and initiatives to combat terrorism in cooperation with allies and partners and stressed that the ongoing consultations will contribute to promoting an effective and sustainable security partnership between the two sides.
He also expressed Bahrain’s aspiration to continue promoting cooperation with NATO, especially in preserving maritime security and keeping pace with successive technological developments to ensure regional security and stability.
Romani praised Bahrain’s efforts to establish peace at the regional and international levels within the framework of the firm commitment to strategic cooperation with partners to combat terrorism. He stressed NATO’s keen interest in cooperating with Bahrain in security and defence.
The two sides also reviewed ways to develop aspects of bilateral cooperation during the meeting, in addition to discussing regional and international issues of common interest.
The meeting was attended by Bahrain’s Ambassador to Belgium and Representative to the European Union and NATO, Dr. Bahia Jawad Al Jishi.
