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.
