22 June 2005

United Arab Emirates to develop cooperation with NATO Background Istanbul Cooperation Initiative On 22 June, the United Arab Emirates formally joined NATO’s Istanbul Cooperation Initiative, a programme of practical bilateral cooperation reaching out to countries in the broader Middle East region. Launched at the NATO Summit in Istanbul in 2004, the Initiative aims to contribute to long-term global and regional security. Reaching out It offers interested countries in the region practical cooperation in areas where NATO can add value, notably in the security field, the fight against terrorism and countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Based on the principle of inclusiveness, the Initiative is open to all interested countries of the broader Middle East region who subscribe to its aims and content, starting with the individual members of the Gulf Cooperation Council: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. To date, four of the six countries - Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates - have joined the Initiative, while all six countries have shown a great interest in it.