Story by Turkish Army Major Tayfun Erbay, Military Partnership Branch
LAGO PATRIA, Italy - Allied Joint Force Command Naples J9 Military Partnership Branch received a delegation from the Qatar Armed Forces (QAF) on 10th December 2019.
The meeting was in the framework of an annual military cooperation Expert Staff Meeting (ESM).
It aimed to enhance NATO's understanding of the QAF’s military interests and partnership goals, while showcasing the various partnership opportunities available.
The ESM also enabled the delegation of the Military Partnership Branch and its partners to openly discuss progress under various initiatives and to ensure that our partners are correctly supported by NATO through JFC Naples.
Discussions included a review of the cooperation program between Qatar and NATO in 2019, the QAF’s topics of interest, JFC Naples MPB's role in facilitating this partnership and a presentation on worthwhile cooperation program activities and exercises available to QAF in 2020.
QAF delegation also paid a visit to NSD-S Hub to familiarize themselves with its role and mission.
Qatar is a partner nation from the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative Framework.
The Expert Staff Meeting is a vital part of the annual military cooperation between NATO and Qatar, as it ensures the military partnership is meeting the needs of the QAF in-line with NATO’s Military Committee’s Direction and Guidance.
More broadly it also supports NATO’s broader aims to help build the trust and understanding that will lead to better cooperation in the region while increasing military interoperability for future NATO mission.
The next ESM between JFC Naples and QAF will take place in Doha in 2020.
LAGO PATRIA, Italy - Allied Joint Force Command Naples J9 Military Partnership Branch received a delegation from the Qatar Armed Forces (QAF) on 10th December 2019. (Photo by JFC Naples J-9)