Manama: Jassem Al-Budaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), addressed the 46th Bahrain-hosted Summit on Wednesday, emphasizing the unity of GCC States in the face of challenges.
According to Emirates News Agency, Al-Budaiwi highlighted incidents impacting the State of Qatar, including Iranian missile attacks and Israeli aggression, describing them as violations of sovereignty and international laws. He stressed the strong bonds among GCC States, which swiftly supported Qatar's security and sovereignty. On the Palestinian issue, he reiterated the GCC's commitment to ending the occupation and establishing an independent Palestinian State with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Al-Budaiwi praised Saudi Arabia's role in advocating for a two-state solution and lauded the outcomes of the International Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine in New York. He also commended the outcomes of the Sharm El-Sheikh Summit and the agreement signed by Qatar, Egypt, Trkiye, and the US, underscoring the importance of adhering to ceasefire stipulations.
The Secretary-General noted the GCC States' policies as a model of successful regional cooperation, combining political stability, economic prosperity, and security collaboration. He outlined the achievements for 2025, including the success of international summits such as the Gulf-US summit in Riyadh, the GCC-ASEAN summit, and a trilateral summit with China.
In terms of military cooperation, Al-Budaiwi pointed out joint drills and meetings in response to Israeli occupation aggression on Qatar. He also mentioned achievements in economic integration, including advancements in aviation, industrialization, commerce, anti-corruption, and humanitarian resolutions.
Al-Budaiwi discussed progress in security cooperation, highlighting an anti-money laundering strategy, preparations for an international Gulf security conference in the UAE, a Qatar-hosted mobilization exercise, and the single point project.
Concluding his remarks, Secretary-General Al-Budaiwi stated that the preparatory ministerial council submitted its recommendations to the Summit, expressing hopes for the GCC states' continued stability, security, and prosperity.