NATO is actively seeking to strengthen ties with Middle Eastern countries as concern grows over instability, the alliance's first special representative for the region, Javier Colomina told The National, Report informs.
Speaking at NATO headquarters in Brussels before his first official visit to Cairo, Colomina said discussions to shore up relations with the region had started last year but the Gaza war had given allies the necessary "political push" to step up regional engagement.
Crucial to NATO's efforts will be the opening of its first regional liaison office in Jordan's capital Amman "in a few months", said Colomina. It is expected to function in a similar fashion to an embassy while also supporting the alliance's bilateral relations with Jordan.
"The embassy will help us collect political information, talk with people on the ground, and have a better understanding of how things are evolving," he said. "There will be also other opportunities to maybe have a presence in other countries if that is the wish of some southern partners as well."
The alliance's focus on its southern neighborhood will not come at the expense of support for Ukraine in its war against Russia, which remains its top priority, said Colomina. But it is seen as a necessary step as security threats become more global.