Hassan Joins NATO Mission Iraq Strategic Assessment Capability

News | June 08, 2020

Upon the request of the NATO’s principal military Headquarters (SHAPE), EWI's Vice President of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) program Kawa Hassan has joined the NATO Mission Iraq Strategic Assessment Capability (NMISAC) as of May 2020. This Independent Advisory Group supports the NATO Mission in Iraq (NMI). It aims to provide strategic, systematic, independent, evidence-based advice and insights to senior NATO Commanders to support existing assessments of the situation in Iraq and the region.

Hassan's previous accomplishments include: 1) serving as the lead-author of the SIPRI research report “Iraq, Climate-Related Security Risk Assessment,” which was used in the July 2018 UN Security Council debate on the nexus between climate change and security, brought forward under the Swedish Presidency of the Council; 2) serving as a member of the Atlantic Council’s Task Force Report on the Future of Iraq “Achieving Long Term Stability to Ensure the Defeat of ISIS;” and 3) co-leading the Working Group Rights & Protection of Minorities in the Middle East, Fondation Maison des sciences de l’homme (FMSH).

NATO Mission Iraq (NMI) is a non-combat training and advisory mission founded on partnership and inclusivity as well as on full respect for Iraq’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. NMI’s advisory activities are conducted in Baghdad, including in the Iraqi Ministry of Defence, the Office of the National Security Advisor and relevant national security institutions. NMI training activities are carried out at the Iraqi military schools in the Baghdad area, Taji and Besmayah. NMI is a new iteration of a long-standing relationship between the Alliance and Iraq, providing expertise and best practice in security/defense sector reform, institution building and training and education from the entire Alliance and its partners from all over the world.