Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi said on Tuesday that the bloc’s six states, days away from their summit in Bahrain, have been weighing a unified missile defense system that could serve as a protective shield for the Arab Gulf.
Speaking to journalists in Manama ahead of the forty sixth Gulf summit, Albudaiwi said joint Gulf defense is one of the most important issues that leaders will discuss at Wednesday’s meeting.
He said the summit convenes amid regional tensions, particularly after Qatar came under two attacks on its territory, one from Iran and the other from Israel.
Iran launched missile strikes on June 23, 2025, targeting several United States bases, including Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar and US positions in Iraq. The attack came in retaliation for a US strike on Iranian nuclear facilities.
On September 9, 2025, Israel carried out airstrikes on Doha using fighter jets that targeted a site used by members of the Hamas negotiating delegation in the Qatari capital.
Albudaiwi said GCC leaders, who condemned the attacks on Qatar, held a solidarity meeting in Doha and asked Gulf defense ministers to convene an extraordinary session to explore ways to protect Gulf territories from similar assaults.
Five measures
Albudaiwi said defense ministers agreed on five military measures, which he did not disclose, during their meeting in Doha. He added that the steps are intended to strengthen joint Gulf military coordination.
He also said the Gulf states have discussed creating a joint missile shield to counter attacks on their territory. These states have already held negotiations with producing countries, he said, adding that they hope for a solution soon.
Free trade
Albudaiwi said the Gulf states are working to conclude free trade agreements with countries around the world, noting that upcoming deals are expected to be signed with Pakistan, New Zealand and South Korea.
On the free trade agreement with the United Kingdom, he said the talks have made significant progress and that only a few steps remain before it is finalised.
He said the Gulf British partnership is rooted in a long history of cooperation and mutual trust and looks toward a promising future based on shared interests.
He said the partnership will include broad cooperation in political coordination, security and defense, cultural exchange, and economic and investment ties.
Forty sixth Gulf summit
Gulf leaders will discuss regional and international developments, along with efforts to strengthen joint Gulf action, during the forty sixth summit in Bahrain. It will be the eighth time Bahrain has hosted the GCC summit since the council was established on May 25, 1981.
