Council room (Archived photo)
On Wednesday (18 March 2026), the North Atlantic Council met with NATO's partners from the Gulf. Discussions centred on the current security situation in the Middle East and its impact on the region and Euro-Atlantic security.
Allies and representatives from Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates exchanged views. NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska and Allies expressed their solidarity with Gulf partners and strongly condemned Iran's indiscriminate attacks across the region. Allies also referred to UN Security Council Resolution 2817 and recognised Gulf partners' right to self-defence under the UN Charter.
Allies underlined the importance of increased dialogue with partners to strengthen practical cooperation. This could include areas such as maritime security, countering Uncrewed Aerial Systems, protection of critical infrastructure, and countering terrorism.
Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are members of NATO's Istanbul Cooperation Initiative, a partnership forum established more than 20 years ago to help contribute to long-term global and regional security through political dialogue and practical cooperation.
