Ammon News - NATO Deputy Secretary General Javier Colomina stated that the choice to establish a NATO liaison office in Amman, revealed at the Washington Summit last July alongside the adoption of the Action Plan on the Southern Neighborhood, "holds significant importance for the Alliance" and strengthens the excellent collaboration with Jordan.
He highlighted that the presence of the Alliance office in Jordan is essential to maintain collaboration with the Jordanian authorities in various areas that are part of bilateral cooperation.
Colomina, acting as the Special Representative of the Secretary General of NATO for the Southern Neighborhood, anticipated that the office would launch in early 2025, stating, "We are advancing significantly in all areas, both logistical and legal, necessary for the office's establishment."
He conveyed to the Kingdom that establishing the office facilitates a significant shift in bilateral relations and will provide both parties the chance to collaborate more closely on the ground, fostering a deeper political dialogue to enhance their understanding of the region through a presence in Amman.
He stated that this office will be the first one the Alliance opens in any Mediterranean Dialogue nation, making it very significant for the Alliance.
Colomina emphasized that the notion of establishing an office in Jordan has been considered for years, and there have been prolonged discussions with the Jordanian authorities. The decision was only finalized at this year’s Washington Summit, clarifying that the choice to open the office is unrelated to the existing tensions in the Middle East.
On July 11, the allies approved during the 2024 NATO Summit in Washington a strategy to improve collaboration in the Middle East and North Africa, aiming to adapt to changes in the security, regional, and global landscape. This strategy aimed to showcase the alliance's dedication to improving collaboration with the nations of the southern neighborhood, by setting up a liaison office for the alliance in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, marking the first liaison office in the area.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates affirmed that the office's inauguration signifies a significant step in the profound strategic partnership between Jordan and the alliance, with the alliance acknowledging Jordan's crucial role in fostering stability both regionally and globally, and praising its substantial successes in addressing cross-border dangers like terrorism and violent extremism.
The office, serving as a representative bureau of the Alliance, will aid in improving political discussions and collaboration in shared fields of interest between NATO and Jordan. It will improve continuous dialogue between Jordan and the Alliance, fostering a better grasp of national and regional circumstances and facilitating progress in executing partnership programs and activities that involve organizing conferences, workshops, and training in fields such as strategic analysis, emergency planning, public diplomacy, cybersecurity, climate change management, crisis management, and civil defense.
"The highest degree" of collaboration -
Colomina emphasized that "for the last year and a half, the southern areas have been and remain a priority for the Alliance and should continue to be prioritized. This increased political will also led to the decision to open an office in Amman during the Washington Summit," noting that the office's establishment is unrelated to current events in the Middle East; rather, it assists the Alliance in enhancing practical collaboration with Jordan and deepening their understanding of regional developments.
He emphasized that the office would aid in enhancing bilateral relations with Jordan, which have attained the “highest level” of practical cooperation with any southern partner, stating that the office is a significant enhancement to the partnership tools with Jordan, and will facilitate an increase in political dialogue as well as practical and military cooperation. Concerning NATO's efforts to assist Jordan, Colomina mentioned that the alliance introduced the Defense Capacity Building Package several years prior, along with various initiatives in partnership with Jordan, and initiated an extra Defense Capacity Building Package within the original framework, which has grown in significance and range in recent years.
He highlighted that improving these capabilities is a key focus for the alliance, alongside fighting terrorism and ensuring border security, noting that the alliance collaborates with Jordanian authorities to execute numerous projects aimed at boosting training, efficiency, and the capability of the armed forces to safeguard borders and tackle terrorism.
He emphasized that Jordan is the southern ally with which the partnership collaborates effectively, and genuinely gains from all the resources that NATO offers, alongside the substantial cooperation and vibrant political discussions occurring between both parties.
Colomina mentioned that this trip to Jordan marks his initial visit as a special representative for the southern neighborhood, during which he presented the local authorities with an introduction and clarification of his new responsibilities, as well as to talk about potential projects to be carried out in the upcoming months.
Colomina mentioned that his appointment as NATO's representative in the southern neighborhood followed a lengthy deliberation that started over a year ago. This discussion arose after members emphasized that the alliance must prioritize the South, a stance that was endorsed at the most recent NATO summit in Washington. An action plan was established, encompassing various work pillars such as enhancing political dialogue towards practical cooperation, boosting presence with partners in the southern neighborhood, and collaborating with international organizations.
"The Washington Summit sanctioned the heads of state and the Secretary General of the Alliance's recommendation to designate a Special Representative for the Southern Neighborhood and its action plan," Colomina noted, clarifying that the role of the Special Representative for the region was to boost and strengthen NATO's presence, enhance collaboration with southern partners, and elevate the significance of the South on the alliance's agenda, which will continue to be a key focus.
Jordan's ties with NATO trace back to 1995, when it became a part of the "Mediterranean Dialogue" initiative, consisting of seven Mediterranean nations, aimed at enhancing the alliance's collaboration with these countries to establish methods of cooperation and coordination for security and stability.
The alliance finalized its initial defense capacity building agreement with Jordan in 2014, regarded as the finest.
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