Crown Prince leads delegation to the 2014 NATO Summit

His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, is this week leading Bahrain’s delegation to the 2014 NATO summit in Wales.
This year’s NATO summit is focused on ways to boost capability among member countries to address today’s complex global threat environment. Since 2005, Bahrain has been a member of NATO’s Istanbul Cooperation Initiative, a specific partnership capacity building programme between NATO and GCC states.

During the summit, His Royal Highness emphasised that the event presented a significant opportunity for Bahrain to renew commitments and identify means to expand cooperation with NATO, particularly in the areas of anti-terrorism and civil emergency planning. Furthermore, His Royal Highness stressed that Bahrain recognises the importance of bolstering collective international action to counter the rising threat to the region posed by extremist groups. He added that Bahrain strongly advocates for NATO’s continued commitment to a full range of humanitarian initiatives, providing critical aid to communities affected by regional violence and terrorism.

In this regard, His Royal Highness echoed recent comments made by His Majesty King Hamad on supporting a swift and immediate international response to eliminating terrorism and the roots of extremism in the region in order to provide a safer and more secure life for all in the Middle East.

His Royal Highness added that Bahrain, as host to Combined Task Forces comprising many NATO member countries, continues to demonstrate that it is a key international peace and security partner. He further noted that that Kingdom is a launchpad to collective efforts to provide maritime security and support to counter-piracy operations around the Gulf of Oman, Horn of Africa and the Arabian Gulf.

His Royal Highness went on to affirm that GCC countries have served as key partners with the international community in fighting all forms of terrorism and extremism that pose a direct threat to long-term regional stability. In this regard, he stressed that Bahrain remains unwavering in its commitment to supporting all efforts by GCC partners and other key allies to work towards this goal.

Turning to the NATO’s session on Afghanistan, His Royal Highness noted that Bahrain has served as a proud partner alongside ISAF coalition forces in Afghanistan where it maintained a specialised presence on the ground until 2013. He highlighted that while in Afghanistan, the Bahraini force provided security to key ISAF installations and supported the training of the Afghan National Police.

His Royal Highness further noted that as ISAF concludes its mission in Afghanistan, the efforts of all NATO member countries to root out terrorism in the country has provided a more secure future for all Afghan citizens. NATO’s Secretary General emphasised this point by highlighting at the start of NATO’s session on Afghanistan today, that the strong collaboration among all ISAF coalition members and partners has led to a significant achievements in Afghanistan.

His Royal Highness echoed UK Prime Minister David Cameron’s recognition of the successes NATO had in Afghanistan as an example of how this multi-functional and multi-national organisation can continue to address the many dangerous and evolving threats facing the world today.

Among the important outcomes of the summit, two initiatives were proposed; His Majesty King Abdulla II of Jordan to form a coalition of the concerned against ISIS, and a resolution, based on a proposal by the Government of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, to continue assisting the ANSF under a non-combat mission with a sound legal basis.

His Highness Colonel Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, who accompanied His Royal Highness to this year’s summit, represented Bahrain at NATO’s parallel meeting of defence ministers. The session focused on identifying ways to improve communication and information exchanges between allies. His Highness also attended an event that showcased the UK’s defence industry and some of the cutting edge technology and equipment in design and production in Britain presently.

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was also accompanied to this year’s summit by His Excellency Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al-Khalifa, the Foreign Minister, Her Excellency Ms. Alice Thomas Samaan, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the United Kingdom and a number of officers representing the Bahrain Defence Force (BDF). His Royal Highness and his accompanying delegation attended a reception ceremony hosted by His Royal Highness Prince Charles, Prince of Wales in honour of senior participants.

The NATO summit was last held in 2012 and attended by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.