AMMAN, Jordan – A new Regional Exercise (REGEX) cycle was started July 18-21, 2016 in Jordan, and for the first time it was hosted by a Mediterranean Dialogue country.

REGEX is a NATO supported opportunity for partner countries to plan an exercise from the beginning to the end according to their training requirements. Jordan has taken the lead for REGEX 17 to help fulfill the idea behind the REGEX initiative.

The 1st Regional Collective Training Event Planning Workshop in support of REGEX 17 took place this month, and it was conducted in Amman with the participation of 13 countries and 28 officers. The participating countries were: Algeria, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, Serbia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, Tunisia, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan.

Brigadier General Mekhled Al Suheim, director of Joint Training/Jordan Armed Forces, in his opening remarks, welcomed the participants and thanked them for participation in this partnership event. He stressed the importance of REGEX 17, pointing out that Jordan Armed Forces keep the activity at high level regarding its priorities.

Allied Joint Force Command Naples is planning to conduct six more workshops and Execution Phase in 2017. This initiative supports NATO objectives and builds trust and understanding for a better cooperation in the region, and it promotes increasing interoperability within NATO.

Story by Major Emrah Cekli, JFC Naples J9 Division
Photo courtesy of Jordan Armed Forces 

*Turkey recognizes the Republic of Macedonia with its constitutional name