Credit: nato.int /   NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomes His Majesty King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in  Brussels 14 January 2020.

 DIPLOMATIC TIMES

BRUSSELS   –  Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan to NATO Headquarters in Brussels on Tuesday (14 January 2020) for talks about the Alliance’s strong partnership with Jordan and the current situation in the Middle East.   Stoltenberg stressed that Jordan is one of NATO’s closest global partners and that the Alliance and Jordan are united in their work to counter international terrorism. The Secretary General underlined it was important to preserve the gains made against ISIS to ensure the terrorist group does not return. During his visit the King discussed regional security challenges with Allied ambassadors during a meeting of the North Atlantic Council.  The Secretary General praised the King’s leadership and his role in promoting regional security.  NATO and Jordanian forces have a long track record of practical cooperation and have worked together from the Balkans to Afghanistan.  NATO has also helped strengthen Jordan’s capabilities, including cyber defence, border security and countering improvised explosive devices.

NATO Chief also Meets With IRAQ  Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs 

 Credit: nato.int /  NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg meets with the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Iraq, Abdul Karim Hashim Aboualgus   in Brussels  14,  January 2020.

NATO and Iraq discuss developments in the Middle East and continued cooperation.  

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with Iraq’s Deputy Foreign Minister Abdul Karim Hashim Aboualgus at NATO Headquarters in Brussels.

They shared views on the recent developments in the Middle East and on NATO-Iraq cooperation.  Stoltenberg underscored that NATO remains fully committed to working with Iraq, and that NATO is ready to resume training and capacity building efforts in Iraq, as soon as conditions on the ground allow, by continuing to support Iraq to build, train and educate the military it needs. A stable Iraq is crucial to regional stability and to euro-atlantic security.

Foreign Troops’  Future in Iraq Uncertain as Clashes Continue

‘For the security of its personnel, NATO has temporarily suspended its training activities in Iraq, given the recent violence there. Iraqis seem divided over what that will mean for their safety,’  al-monitor.com reported.  ‘The NATO announcement raised concerns among some Iraqis that the United States and its allies would withdraw from Iraq, which would allow Iran to increase its influence’, according to al-monitor.com.   ‘On the other hand, Iraq’s parliament voted Jan. 5 to end the foreign military presence in Iraq.’