Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), said on Monday that during a 45-day period, GCC countries were the target of 7,000 attacks by Iran and its proxies.
Speaking at the Gulf Achievements Forum in Riyadh, he stressed that the GCC countries were no longer a merely a regional bloc united by geography and history, but they have become a global strategic power where opportunities are created and models of development, prosperity, security, and stability are built.
“The ultimate objective of holding the Gulf Achievements Forum is to enhance awareness of the achievements that were never merely temporary accomplishments or economic indicators, but rather the result of an integrated Gulf system through which the founding leaders of the GCC,” he added.
The leaders of the GCC countries, have sought over past and present decades, to transform challenges into opportunities through integration across all areas of joint Gulf action, he went on to say.
“This has directly contributed to improving the quality of life of GCC citizens, boosting their welfare and stability, and strengthening the standing of the GCC regionally and internationally,” remarked Albudaiwi.
He expressed pride in the achievements accomplished in the fields of political integration, military and security cooperation, economic integration, infrastructure, digital transformation, education, health, media, electricity interconnection, food security and other vital sectors that have helped in strengthening the competitiveness of the GCC countries and consolidating their position as an influential regional and international hub.
“One of the most distinctive features of the Gulf experience is that the GCC citizen has always been, and remains, the focus and ultimate objective of development,” he said. “These achievements have had a direct impact on their lives through freedom of movement, employment, ownership, investment, education and healthcare across the GCC countries.”
He revealed that 95% of traffic connectivity between the GCC countries has been achieved. The countries have adopted a dedicated strategy to combat money laundering, he added, noting that there is high-level coordination among the interior ministers of the GCC countries to unify the drug control strategy.
“The future of the GCC is not measured only by the scale of the achievements made, but by our ability to build upon them and transform them into sustainable gains that meet the aspirations of our peoples and future generations,” Albudaiwi told the audience.
“The next phase requires intensified joint Gulf efforts, strengthened integration across all fields, and the building of a Gulf economy capable of competing globally, thereby consolidating the position of the GCC countries as an influential global partner in shaping the economy of the future and sustainable development.”
Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Affairs, Gulf Cooperation Council Khaled Al-Senaidi stressed that the development aspect is present in all GCC systems, including a set of regulations that have been issued and have led to achievements in the field of human rights.
Figures show that joint Gulf cooperation is progressing rapidly, including the common market and the customs union, he said.
GCC Assistant Secretary-General for military Affairs Eisa Al-Mohannadi stressed that among the most important achievements are the activation of the unified military command in the Naval Command in Bahrain, the unified air command in Riyadh, and the Peninsula Shield Force in Hafr Al-Batin.
He also underscored the joint defense agreement that says that any threat or attack on a GCC country is a tantamount to an attack on all Gulf countries.
On military industrialization, he revealed coordination and integration in this field among the GCC countries, highlighting their ambitions to establish a joint air defense system. He also announced that an early warning system to counter threats will be launched soon.
On the security level, he highlighted achievements in combating money-laundering and terror financing.
The Gulf Achievements Forum was organized by the General Secretariat of the GCC in cooperation with the Gulf Radio and Television Organization (GRTO). It was attended by a number of senior media officials from the GCC countries, specialists, and GCC students studying at universities in Saudi Arabia.
