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Albudaiwi: GCC Aspires to Strengthen Dialogue with Int’l Community to Achieve Global Security

Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi. GCC
Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi. GCC
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Albudaiwi: GCC Aspires to Strengthen Dialogue with Int’l Community to Achieve Global Security

Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi. GCC
Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi. GCC

Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi said the GCC looks forward to strengthening its dialogue with the international community to achieve global security and stability, and work to resolve all conflicts through peaceful means, based on the rules of international law and the Charter of the United Nations.

Albudaiwi participated in the meeting of the North Atlantic Council of NATO and representatives of the partners in the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI), headed by Deputy Secretary General of NATO Mircea Joanna.

Held in Brussels on Wednesday, the meeting also witnessed the participation of the ambassadors of NATO countries and the ambassadors of Finland, Sweden, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait via audiovisual communication.

Albudaiwi indicated that the potential cooperation between the GCC General Secretariat and NATO, which is considered the largest military alliance in the world, is of paramount importance, especially with the existence of opportunities to effectively engage in constructive strategic partnerships and dialogues with its members.

Albudaiwi praised the robust and productive collaboration between Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates on one hand, and NATO, on the other, under the umbrella of the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative and through NATO-ICI Regional Center, which will celebrate its seventh anniversary next January.

Albudaiwi cited the encouraging statements of NATO Secretary Jens Stoltenberg during his visit to the region on many occasions, especially during his trip to Kuwait, where he asserted that “the security of the Gulf is the security of the Alliance.”

He also stated that the NATO-ICI Regional Center has played a pivotal role in strengthening the collective understanding of NATO's role and the significance of cooperation with the organization within the region, clarifying that it has been instrumental in enhancing the individual capabilities of its ICI members, as well as Saudi Arabia and Oman.

During his speech, the GCC Secretary General also reviewed the positions of the GCC countries on regional and international issues, stressing their role in achieving global security and prosperity, which is based on development and stability.

He indicated that the Gulf Cooperation Council has now become a strong voice on the global scene, enabling it to contribute in resolving some regional and international conflicts, through its strong partnerships with all key players in the world.

Albudaiwi expressed the aspiration of the GCC General Secretariat to extend a welcoming hand for cooperation with NATO across a broad spectrum of shared interests that serve the cause of regional and global peace and stability.

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Gulf

Türkiye: The Makkah Agreement Will Be a Pivotal Platform That Changes the Rules of the Game in the Region

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signed the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement on August 7 (Turkish Presidency).
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signed the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement on August 7 (Turkish Presidency).
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Türkiye: The Makkah Agreement Will Be a Pivotal Platform That Changes the Rules of the Game in the Region

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signed the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement on August 7 (Turkish Presidency).
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signed the Makkah Joint Defense Agreement on August 7 (Turkish Presidency).

Türkiye said the Makkah Agreement on mutual defense will become a pivotal platform that will change the rules of the game in the region.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said the Makkah Agreement is progressing well and represents a very strong expression of political will, with intensive efforts under way to translate that will into practical steps.

He added that steps are currently being taken to institutionalize the agreement, and that work to establish the secretariat and associated military command stipulated in the agreement is nearing completion. An understanding has been reached, he said, leaving the deployment of personnel and activation of the command as the remaining steps, adding that Türkiye is satisfied with the progress being made in this regard.

In a televised interview late Saturday, Fidan said the Makkah Agreement is open to the countries of the region and that, once the steps of the foundational phase are completed, the necessary consultations can be held with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan regarding the admission of new allies.

He explained that there is an initial decision to that effect, noting that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had said from the outset that if the framework did not expand, it would not constitute an alliance but rather a bloc. He added that Türkiye's regional vision is based on bringing together the largest possible group of countries in the region to establish a common defense framework.

Fidan stressed that this defense framework is not directed against outside parties. Rather, its aim is to enable the region to address its internal problems more effectively through the concept of regional ownership, and to prevent new crises from emerging by creating an environment of trust that did not previously exist. He said the fundamental starting point for all of this is the pursuit of regional solutions to regional problems.

Regarding the concerns expressed by some countries, and comments from Israel, Iran, India and Greece describing the Makkah Agreement as merely a piece of paper, Fidan said that the fact that these countries are concerned demonstrates the agreement's impact and importance.

He added that attempts to discredit the agreement and such forms of misinformation through the media are in fact a reflection of that impact and the concerns it has generated. He said Türkiye simply smiles and moves on because such claims have no basis.

Fidan pointed out that Türkiye has been a member of NATO since 1952 and that NATO has activated Article 5 only twice in its history, yet no one described the alliance as merely a piece of paper. He said that describing an agreement signed only three months ago in such terms, despite the rapid progress it is making, amounts to an attempt to end something before it has even begun. He added that, in reality, such an approach indirectly reflects the perception of the threat held by those making these comments, and said the Makkah Agreement will become a pivotal platform that changes the rules of the game.

Asked about the Houthis' recent attacks targeting Saudi Arabia and whether the principle of mutual defense under the Makkah Agreement would be activated, Fidan said Saudi Arabia had come under serious attacks targeting its territorial integrity, sovereignty and infrastructure. He said Türkiye stands in solidarity with Saudi Arabia on this matter, is assessing and analyzing the situation, and is conducting consultations that cannot be made public. These discussions, he added, could identify specific military needs in certain technical areas, and Türkiye would have no difficulty meeting them.

He noted that the Turkish Foreign Ministry had condemned the attacks against Saudi Arabia, particularly those targeting Makkah and oil infrastructure. He stressed that it is unacceptable to turn this matter into part of the ongoing conflict between Iran and the United States, and that Saudi Arabia must be kept outside this equation because it is also not seeking to join it.

Gulf

Saudi FM Highlights Saudi Arabia’s Commitment to International Peace and Security

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah in Moscow on July 4, 2025. (Reuters)
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah in Moscow on July 4, 2025. (Reuters)
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Saudi FM Highlights Saudi Arabia’s Commitment to International Peace and Security

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah in Moscow on July 4, 2025. (Reuters)
Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah in Moscow on July 4, 2025. (Reuters)

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah said that Saudi Arabia’s participation in the high-level week of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly this year reflects its approach of engaging with the international community, continuing its role in supporting international peace and security, promoting dialogue and mediation, and contributing to efforts to address shared challenges.

In a statement to SPA, Prince Faisal said that the Kingdom views the proceedings of this session, held under the theme "Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations That Delivers for All," as an opportunity to reaffirm the principles on which international institutions, foremost among them the United Nations, were established.

These principles include fulfilling their role in promoting security and peace, upholding international law and norms, and strengthening international cooperation in addressing crises.

He added that, in light of current developments in the region, the Kingdom affirms the need to uphold the principles of international law, which underscore respect for the sovereignty of states, the peaceful resolution of disputes, and the safety and freedom of navigation in international waterways, thereby safeguarding the security of all nations and advancing the aspirations of their peoples.

Prince Faisal also noted that, in its participation this year, the Kingdom places great importance on sustainable development, particularly artificial intelligence technologies and their responsible use to develop various sectors, enhance their efficiency, and support innovation, thus delivering tangible benefits to the people, coinciding with the Kingdom’s designation of 2026 as the Year of Artificial Intelligence.

Gulf

UN Security Council Condemns Houthi Attacks on Saudi Arabia

A UN Security Council meeting
A UN Security Council meeting
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UN Security Council Condemns Houthi Attacks on Saudi Arabia

A UN Security Council meeting
A UN Security Council meeting

The UN Security Council has warned of the consequences of the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and the threats posed to international navigation in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.

The Council considered that the militia's military actions in Yemen, alongside its targeting of Saudi territory and commercial shipping, threaten to expand the regional conflict, undermine maritime security and international trade, and hinder regional and international efforts aimed at achieving peace in Yemen.

In a statement issued on Friday night, Council members expressed solidarity with the Kingdom in confronting assaults targeting civilians and civilian objects, affirming Saudi Arabia's inherent right to self-defense in accordance with international law.

The members called on the Houthi militia to immediately halt its military escalation and attacks affecting civilians, stressing the importance of the full implementation of Security Council Resolution 2216 of 2015 and subsequent relevant resolutions.

Reiterating support for the Yemeni government, the Council emphasized its commitment to Yemen's unity, sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity.

Also, Council members denounced missile strikes directed at the Kingdom alongside attacks and threats against commercial shipping in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

They stressed the critical need to safeguard commercial vessels and crew members while upholding international navigational freedoms under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Council members affirmed that the Houthi strikes on Saudi territory, threats to shipping in the Red Sea and advances near the Bab Al-Mandab Strait, risked “further expanding the conflict, threatening maritime security and international trade, and undermining regional and international efforts to secure peace in Yemen.”

The Council also backed Riyadh directly, affirming “the inherent right of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to self-defense in accordance with international law” and expressing solidarity with the Kingdom “in the face of attacks impacting civilians and civilian objects on its territory.”

The Council members demanded that the Houthis immediately cease their attacks affecting civilians and civilian objects, expressing their grave concern over reports regarding the killing and injuring of civilians, as well as the destruction of civilian objects and infrastructure resulting from these attacks.

Members also expressed grave concern about reports of civilians killed and injured and noted that at least 125,000 people have been displaced in Yemen since the start of September, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

They warned that further escalation would worsen the country's dire humanitarian situation.
The members called for full, safe, rapid and unhindered humanitarian access and demanded the unconditional release of detainees, including 73 UN personnel and staff of NGOs, civil society groups and diplomatic missions.

The Council reaffirmed backing for UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg's efforts to broker a comprehensive political settlement guided by agreed references and relevant Security Council resolutions, and urged the Yemeni parties to engage constructively with UN efforts.