Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI)

It focuses on practical cooperation in areas where NATO can add value, notably in the security field, starting with the individual members of the Gulf Cooperation Council: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

Based on the principle of inclusiveness, the Initiative is, however, open to all interested countries of the broader Middle East region who subscribe to its aims and content, including the fight against terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

It is understood that the words “country” and “countries” in the document do not exclude participation, subject to the North Atlantic Council’s approval, of the Palestinian Authority in cooperation under this initiative.

Each interested country will be considered by the North Atlantic Council on a case-by-case basis and on its own merit. Participation of countries in the region in the Initiative as well as the pace and extent of their cooperation with NATO will depend in large measure on their individual response and level of interest.

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.

What key principles is the Initiative based on?

The ICI is based on a number of important principles, including:

• it is a cooperative initiative, based on joint ownership and the mutual interests of NATO and the countries of the region, taking into account their diversity and specific needs;
• the process is distinct yet takes into account and complements other international initiatives including by the G8 and international organisations such as the EU and the OSCE.

What does this mean in practice?

The Initiative offers a 'menu' of bilateral activities that countries can choose from in six areas:

• tailored advice on defence reform, defence budgeting, defence planning and civil-military relations;
• military-to-military cooperation to contribute to interoperability through participation in selected military exercises and related education and training activities that could improve the ability of participating countries' forces to operate with those of the Alliance; and through participation in selected NATO and PfP exercises and in NATO-led operation on a case-by-case basis;
• cooperation in the fight against terrorism, including through intelligence-sharing;
• cooperation in the Alliance's work on the profileration of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery,
• cooperation regarding border security in connection with terrorism, small arms and light weapons and the fight against illegal trafficking;
• civil emergency planning, including participating in training courses and exercises on disaster assistance.

How did the Initiative evolve?

NATO recognizes that dealing with today's complex new threats requires wide international cooperation and collective effort. That is why NATO has developed, and continues to develop, a network of partnerships in the security field.

The Initiative was preceeded by a series of high level consultations conducted by the Deputy Secretary General of NATO, Ambassador Minuto Rizzo, with six countries of the region in May, September and December 2004. These were: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. During these consultations all of the countries expressed their interest in the Initiative.

In the desert of life, the wise person travels by caravan, whereas the fool prefers to travel alone

Arab proverb

ICI was launched at the Summit meeting of NATO Heads of State and Government in Istanbul, 28 June 2004.

Following the Summit, from September to December 2004, the Deputy Secretary General of NATO paid a second round of visits to the six members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, to discuss the way ahead.

In the first three months of 2005, three countries: Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar frormally joined the ICI.

In March 2005, NATO's Public Diplomacy Division and the NATO Defense College organized in Rome a conference on “NATO and the broader Middle East region”. It brought together over 100 high-ranking officials, parliamentarians, academics and security experts from NATO and the countries of the Gulf to exchange perceptions and discuss further ideas concerning the implementation of the Initiative.

In June 2005, the United Arab Emirates joined the Initiative.

Which NATO bodies have a central role?

Following the launch of the ICI, NATO countries decided to establish the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative Group, composed of political counsellors from the 26 delegations of member countries to NATO.

The Group is in charge of defining the procedures for the development of a menu of practical activities with interested countries and ensuring its succesful implementation. It will also report to the Council or to NATO's Senior Political Committee and will prepare the ground for the decisions to be adopted by the North Atlantic Council on ICI.

In addition, the Group will engage countries participating in the Initiative on a '26+1' basis for the development of individual workplans and follow up on their implementation.