MANAMA: Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary General Jasem Al-Budaiwi on Wednesday commended His Highness the Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah’s wise leadership and steadfast commitment to advancing joint Gulf action during Kuwait’s chairmanship of the 45th GCC Supreme Council session. Speaking at the inauguration of the 46th Supreme Council meeting, hosted by Bahrain under the chairmanship of King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Al-Budaiwi praised Kuwait’s efforts in strengthening GCC cooperation and supporting the aspirations of Gulf peoples toward unity and shared progress.
The summit was attended by the leaders of GCC member states, with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni participating as guest of honor. Al-Budaiwi also extended congratulations to Bahrain on assuming the presidency of the 46th session, expressing confidence that the summit would further enhance Gulf integration, cooperation, and cohesion. He stressed that the GCC has become a successful model of regional partnership, combining political stability, economic growth, and robust security cooperation — making the bloc a trusted partner regionally and internationally.
Unified security stance
Al-Budaiwi recalled recent regional challenges that underscored the unity and indivisibility of Gulf security, affirming that any threat to a member state is considered a threat to all. He highlighted swift collective support by GCC countries in response to recent incidents faced by Qatar, reflecting the depth of Gulf solidarity.
Firm support for Palestine
On the Palestinian issue, he reaffirmed the GCC’s unwavering stance on the establishment of an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. He commended international efforts — including those led by Saudi Arabia — to implement the two-state solution and welcomed recent agreements aimed at supporting ceasefire efforts and humanitarian relief.
Advancing partnerships and integration
The Secretary General reviewed major accomplishments of 2025, including summits and expanded cooperation with the United States, ASEAN, China, and other partners. He noted progress in defense coordination, joint military exercises, and efforts to enhance collective deterrence. In economic affairs, he highlighted initiatives to strengthen the Gulf Common Market, advance the Customs Union project, launch new industrial and civil aviation bodies, and boost cooperation in technology, trade in services, and professional qualifications. He also emphasized efforts to enhance legal harmonization, fight corruption, and promote societal values and family protection.
Future vision
Al-Budaiwi said security issues on the agenda include approving a unified Gulf strategy to combat financial crimes and preparing major regional security exercises and conferences in coming years. He concluded by expressing hope that the resolutions of the Manama summit will build on the GCC’s achievements, reinforcing ongoing progress and the blessings of security and stability across the region.
Gulf-Italian partnership
King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa affirmed the GCC states’ keenness to deepen cooperation with Italy, strengthening economic, social, and cultural ties, based on dialogue and mutual respect. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni highlighted the strategic importance of the Mediterranean and Gulf regions, underscoring opportunities for economic connectivity, digital collaboration, and energy transition. She proposed a GCC-MED summit hosted in Italy to launch a new framework for dialogue and partnership between Gulf and Mediterranean nations.
Al-Budaiwi welcomed Italy’s participation, noting that Gulf-Italian relations are rooted in decades of constructive cooperation. He highlighted growing economic ties, with trade exceeding $35 billion in 2024, and emphasized expanding partnerships in defense, energy, renewable energy, food security, digital economy, infrastructure, and logistics. “The GCC’s cooperation with Italy represents a strategic pillar for regional coordination, security, and prosperity,” Al-Budaiwi said, underlining the partnership’s foundation of mutual trust, shared interests, and a history of constructive collaboration. — KUNA
