Brussels: Maqsoud Kruse, Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Countering Extremism and Terrorism, led the UAE delegation at the 26th Coordinating Committee Meeting of the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF) held in Brussels. The meeting was centered on discussing the future direction of the Forum as it celebrated its fifteenth anniversary. Member states had the opportunity to exchange views on maintaining the effectiveness of the Forum's work, including its structure, workstreams, outputs, and governance framework.
According to Emirates News Agency, discussions at the meeting also emphasized the importance of aligning international efforts before the Ninth Review of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy, which will be held during the Fourth United Nations Counter-Terrorism Week at the end of June. In his address, Kruse announced the UAE's commitment to providing financial support to the Forum, pledging pound 500,000 for 2027 and annual contributions of US$300,000 starting in 2028.
Kruse reiterated the UAE's dedication to enhancing global efforts to counter extremism and terrorism through multilateral partnerships. He highlighted the necessity of cooperation among states and United Nations entities to tackle global challenges such as combating terrorist financing, countering extremist narratives, and addressing the misuse of emerging technologies and artificial intelligence by terrorist organizations.
The Forum's co-chairs, represented by the European Union and Egypt, along with other participating states, praised the UAE's financial commitment and acknowledged its supportive role in strengthening the Global Counterterrorism Forum's initiatives.
The UAE, a founding member of the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF), has been actively involved in supporting United Nations efforts and complementing the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy since the Forum's establishment in 2011. The Forum aims to enhance international collaboration in countering terrorism and preventing extremism through the development of good practices and tools that aid national capacity-building and facilitate the exchange of expertise among states.
Additionally, the UAE hosts Hedayah, the International Center of Excellence for Countering Violent Extremism, located in Abu Dhabi since 2012. Hedayah is recognized as the first institution founded under the GCTF framework.