An Asian alternative to Nato? How Cica is rethinking Middle East security

Chief of lesser-known security forum says it provides ‘architecture for de-escalation’ and allows members to project soft power While the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (Cica) lacks a mandate for direct intervention, its 28-member platform for security dialogue unites key Middle Eastern nations and major powers across Asia. Members include the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Palestine, Egypt, Kazakhstan, India, Russia and China. Kairat Sarybay, Cica’s secretary general, said that while member states held divergent views on particular issues, “they are still able to agree on some ideas where they can cooperate”.

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