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Kuwait Nominates Finance Minister as GCC Sec-Gen

Kuwaiti finance minister Nayef al-Hajraf (KUNA)
Kuwaiti finance minister Nayef al-Hajraf (KUNA)
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Kuwait Nominates Finance Minister as GCC Sec-Gen

Kuwaiti finance minister Nayef al-Hajraf (KUNA)
Kuwaiti finance minister Nayef al-Hajraf (KUNA)

Kuwait has officially nominated its finance minister Nayef al-Hajraf for the post of GCC Secretary-General, to succeed Abdul Latif bin Rashid al-Zayani, whose term expires next year.

Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled al-Jarallah announced that Kuwait has officially informed the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member countries of its nomination.

“We hope that the coming GCC summit would approve al-Hajraf's nomination,” Jarallah told reporters.

The United Arab Emirates is expected to host the 40th Gulf Summit in December.

Hajraf is expected to submit his resignation to the Prime Minister, while reports indicated that Minister of State for Economic Affairs Mariam al-Aqeel will be nominated to replace the finance minister.

Hajraf was recently questioned by the National Assembly. He holds a Ph.D. in Accounting and Finance from the University of Hull, UK, a Master’s in Accounting from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a bachelor's degree in accounting from Kuwait University.

He was a Vice President of Gulf University for Science and Technology for Academic Services. He also served as Kuwait’s chief regulator of marketable securities in his capacity as the Chairman of the Board of Commissioners and Managing Director of the Kuwait Capital Markets Authority (CMA) from 2014 to 2017.

He has previously served as Kuwait Minister of Finance for a brief period in 2012, and Kuwait Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education from 2012 to 2014.

He was also a member of the First Board of Commissioners of the Capital Markets Authority in 2010, and a member of the Supreme Petroleum Council.

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) was established on May 25, 1981, during a meeting of Gulf leaders in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Abdullah Yacoub Bishara became the first Secretary-General of the GCC, where he assumed the General Secretariat for 11 years, from 1981 to 1993. He was succeeded by Fahim bin Sultan al-Qasimi (UAE) between 1993 – 1996.

In 1996, Jamil Ibrahim al-Hejailan (Saudi Arabia) assumed the sec-gen position and stayed until 2002, and was followed by Abdul Rahman bin Hamad al-Attiyah (Qatar) who served between 2002 and 2011.

Current GCC sec-gen Zayani (Bahrain) assumed his position in 2011 and is expected to step down in 2020.

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Gulf

Erdogan: Saudi Arabia, Türkiye Eye Joint Investment in KAAN Fighter Jet

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Riyadh (Turkish Presidency). 
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Riyadh (Turkish Presidency). 
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Erdogan: Saudi Arabia, Türkiye Eye Joint Investment in KAAN Fighter Jet

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Riyadh (Turkish Presidency). 
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Riyadh (Turkish Presidency). 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said work has begun on a defense cooperation agreement between Türkiye and Saudi Arabia that includes joint investment in the production of the fifth-generation KAAN fighter jet.

Erdogan said Türkiye’s progress in defense industries is being closely followed by Saudi Arabia, as well as by other countries, adding that Ankara is preparing to conclude significant agreements with Riyadh in this field.

Speaking to a group of Turkish journalists on his return from a regional tour that included Saudi Arabia and Egypt, with his remarks published on Thursday, Erdogan said: “We have received many positive comments on the Turkish fighter KAAN, and discussions are under way on joint investment with Saudi Arabia in this regard.”

He stressed that KAAN is not merely a combat aircraft but a symbol of Türkiye’s engineering capabilities and its determination to maintain an independent defense posture. He added that cooperation with Saudi Arabia in this area is likely to expand, including through joint investments.

In February 2024, Türkiye announced the successful first flight of its domestically produced fifth-generation fighter jet, KAAN, manufactured by Turkish Aerospace Industries. With this milestone, Türkiye became one of only five countries capable of producing fifth-generation fighter aircraft and aims to export the jet.

KAAN is designed to carry out air-to-air combat missions and conduct precision strikes from internal weapons bays at supersonic speed.

Erdogan said he held “highly productive” talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during his visit to Riyadh on Tuesday, noting that Saudi Arabia holds a special place for Türkiye in defense industries, transport, healthcare, investment, and construction services. Bilateral trade reached $8 billion in 2025, while Turkish contractors have completed more than 400 projects in the Kingdom worth a total of $30 billion.

He added that Saudi Arabia and Türkiye share aligned views on regional issues, stressing that both countries oppose any new war in the region and favor peace, stability, and calm, which he said would benefit all parties.

 

 

 

 

 

Gulf

Saudi Crown Prince Receives Letter from Maldives President

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz (SPA)
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz (SPA)
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Saudi Crown Prince Receives Letter from Maldives President

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz (SPA)
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz (SPA)

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, received a letter from Maldives President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu on bilateral relations between their countries.

Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Waleed Elkhereiji received the letter on Thursday during a meeting with Maldives Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ahmed Sareer at the ministry’s headquarters in Riyadh.

Discussions during the meeting addressed bilateral relations and topics of mutual interest.

Gulf

Albudaiwi: 'Arabian Gulf Security 4' Exercise Enhances GCC Security Integration

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: 'Arabian Gulf Security 4' Exercise Enhances GCC Security Integration

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

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi affirmed that the "Arabian Gulf Security 4" tactical exercise serves to bolster Gulf security integration and embodies the unity and shared destiny of member states.

The statement was made Wednesday during Albudaiwi’s participation in the closing day of the exercise, held in Qatar. The event was attended by Qatari Interior Minister Shaikh Khalifa bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani along with the GCC Ministers of Interior.

"This fourth edition of the drill, conducted by the GCC Ministries of Interior with the participation of specialized units from the friendly United States of America, is of paramount importance in supporting the collective Gulf security framework," the secretary-general said.

He stressed its role in enhancing coordination and integration among the respective ministries and elevating joint readiness and response to security challenges, thereby contributing to the consolidation of security and stability across the GCC.

He further highlighted that the "Arabian Gulf Security 4" exercise reflects a mutual commitment to advancing security operational mechanisms, exchanging expertise and best practices, as well as unifying efforts to counter transnational risks and threats. He pointed out that such maneuvers constitute a fundamental pillar for strengthening institutional integration and security cooperation pathways among member states.

The secretary-general expressed his appreciation for the efforts of the Ministry of Interior of Qatar in hosting and organizing the exercise, noting that the extensive resources and capabilities provided were instrumental to its success.

Closing his remarks, he voiced his aspiration that the exercise achieves its strategic objectives, fulfilling the visions of leaders of the GCC states, and ensuring sustained security and stability for the peoples of the GCC.