Abstract:In 2004, NATO introduced the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI), with the aim of fostering a security partnership between NATO and Gulf countries. From a dynamic perspective, its emergence represents not only an expansion and extension of Europe and America's collective defense strategies but is also driven by non-traditional security threats. Simultaneously, the recognition of threats from countries such as Iran, Russia, and other nations also laid the groundwork for its establishment. However, despite years of development, cooperation between the two sides remains at a low level. Differences in security interests among the Initiative countries, a lack of significant common threats, and the involvement of complex external forces in the region are pivotal factors constraining the cooperative potential of the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative. On a broader scale, NATO itself faces multiple challenges, including growing internal divisions, a diminished role in the US global strategy, and a refocusing on NATO's strategic priorities due to the Russia-Ukraine crisis. These factors collectively impede NATO's external expansion efforts. Within the Gulf region, countries like Saudi Arabia express reservations about Western intervention in regional affairs. With the shifting center of US strategy, the Gulf region's prominence on the international stage has also waned, while the increasing willingness of Indian Ocean countries to collaborate with one another will continue to limit the enthusiasm of all parties involved in the Initiative in the future.

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​Keywords: NATO, Istanbul Cooperation Initiative, Gulf Cooperation Council, Collective Defense