Knesset delegation visiting NATO headquarters in Brussels on 17 Feb. 2016. Picture by NATO
The North Atlantic Council on Wednesday, 4 May 2016, agreed to allow the State of Israel, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the State of Qatar and the State of Kuwait to establish diplomatic missions before the NATO headquarters as noted by a statement issued on behalf of the 28-member alliance.
As a matter of procedure ambassadors and attachés shall enjoy upgraded access to exercises, events and alliance-related procurement programmes.
The decision is the result of invitations first extended in 2011 to allow the seven members of the so-called “Mediterranean Dialogue” (which includes Israel and Jordan) and the “Istanbul Initiative” comprised of Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and UAE to open liaison offices to NATO.
Thus far only the UAE have opened a separate mission to NATO in Brussels.
Israel’s Defence Attaché at the Embassy to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Colonel Ron Wisel, has and is still in charge of dealing with relations to NATO, albeit based in The Hague.
For more information:
Israeli Military Attaché, Colonel Ron Wisel: http://embassies.gov.il/hague-en/Departments/Pages/defense-affairs.aspx
Emirati-NATO relations: http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_128753.htm
