NATO Allies and Partners discuss energy security
On 5 June 2023, the NATO Military Committee held a meeting with select Partners – Algeria, Azerbaijan, Jordan, Kuwait and Uzbekistan – to discuss energy security and subsequent challenges as well as focus areas of that would benefit from strengthened military cooperation within the existing partnerships. This meeting is the second in a thematic series.
Opening the meeting, the Deputy Chair of the NATO Military Committee, Lieutenant General Lance Landrum welcomed the Partner Military Representatives, while highlighting the importance of addressing common challenges and discussing global security issues, as partnerships constitute the foundation of our cooperative security. “By fostering strong communication and collaboration with our Partners, we can positively shape the strategic and global environment, enhance our security, and uphold our values in an increasingly competitive and complex world, while also safeguarding the norms that underpin international order", he underscored.
As the first briefer, the Director of the NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence, Colonel Darius Uzkuraitis briefed the Committee on the critical role his institution plays in supporting of NATO and Partner Nations and highlighted that energy security is not a stand-alone issue, but a variety of considerations that span across NATO’s three core tasks. He noted that Nations have a responsibility to sure up their resilience, especially when it comes to critical infrastructure and energy security.
The NATO Military Committee then heard from Partners, Azerbaijan and Jordan. The Military Representative for Azerbaijan, Colonel Aghaverdi Guliyev and Dr Esmira Jafarova provided some insights into country’s energy security strategy and noted their efforts to diversify natural gas sources and routes, as well as export renewable energy resources. The Military Representative for Jordan, Colonel Mohammad Hassan highlighted his Nation’ strategic vision, by underscoring its energy security priorities, which are centred on reducing risk by decreasing their dependence on imported energy, protecting vital energy facilities, including cybersecurity measures, to ensure national stability; and building a stable, reliable, and sustainable energy sector.
In his closing remarks, Lieutenant General Landrum highlighted the importance of today’s exchanges, which support NATO’s ambition to increase its energy security. “Cooperation with Partners is critical, in order to develop more stable and reliable energy supplies, sources and alternatives. Such a session of the Military Committee provides a perfect platform to exchange on these aspects. Today’s discussions demonstrate that there is an appetite for further exchanges on the topic as well as potential for more cooperation between NATO Allies and Partners”, he concluded.