The 20th meeting of the Joint Defense Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council, which was held in Muscat on Wednesday, discussed ways to enhance cooperation and military action among the six GCC countries, and issued a set of decisions and recommendations that will be submitted to the leaders during the next GCC summit meeting.
The Joint Defense Council was chaired by Shihab bin Tariq Al Said, Omani Deputy Prime Minister for Defense Affairs, in the presence of GCC Secretary-General Jassim Mohammed Al-Budaiwi.
The Omani News Agency said that the meeting discussed a number of issues of common interest and means to enhance cooperation and military action.
“Our countries are on the path to significant progress within the framework of existing cooperation, by achieving accomplishments in various fields, mainly military cooperation,” Al Said told the participants.
“We are all determined to improve and upgrade the capabilities of the armed forces of the GCC countries to achieve the common goals and contribute further to strengthening the process of joint cooperation among the GCC states,” he added.
The Omani deputy prime minister noted that the agenda of the meeting covered important topics, including the recommendations of the Supreme Military Committee for the Chiefs of Staff, and the means to strengthen the process of cooperation in a manner that achieves Gulf ambitions in various defense fields.
For his part, the secretary-general of the GCC said that joint military action was among the priorities of the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, out of their awareness of the responsibility of the armed forces to ensure security, stability and territorial integrity of the region.
He also praised “the great role assumed by the armed forces of the GCC countries, the high efficiency and distinguished capabilities they enjoy, the discipline, professionalism, dedication and sincerity of the forces in performing the tasks assigned to them, and their excellent performance in coordinating and managing military operations, training and joint exercises.”
