ABSTRACT
The Istanbul Cooperation Initiative launched by North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) in 2004 and joined by four of the Gulf countries, namely Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Bahrain, comprised important areas of security and defense cooperation. The greatest challenge to Arabian Gulf security involved the collapse of the unified national state in Yemen, Iraq and Syria. The NATO–Gulf partnership has pillars that include distinguished relations at the bilateral level between the Gulf countries and the key members of NATO, especially France and the UK. NATO can also play an important role regarding energy security. NATO member states engage, collectively or individually, in international efforts to address the threats of Iran because the Arabian Gulf and Central Asia are of prime importance to NATO. NATO can provide the Gulf Cooperation Council countries with modern military technology that support the self-force of such countries, and for supporting the defense aspects of implementing the proposal for setting up the Gulf Union.
