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The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Jassim Mohammed Al-Budaiwi, affirmed that the security of the member states is indivisible, and that establishing a stable and sustainable regional security system requires adherence to the principles of international law, respect for state sovereignty, enhancement of collective defense, prioritization of diplomatic solutions, and safeguarding the security of maritime corridors and energy supplies, alongside promoting development and international partnerships.

This came during his participation today in the third general session titled "Foundations of Regional Security," as part of the 22nd Regional Security Summit "Manama Dialogue 2026," held in the Bahraini capital, Manama.

Al-Budaiwi explained that the developments witnessed in the region since February 28 have posed serious challenges to regional security, following Iranian attacks targeting the Gulf Cooperation Council states and their civilian and vital facilities, despite their non-participation in the war and their diplomatic efforts to contain the escalation. He pointed out that the repercussions extended to the global economy due to disruptions in navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, affecting energy prices, shipping and insurance costs, and supply chains.

He condemned the terrorist attacks carried out by the Houthi militias against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia since last July, which have extended to Mecca and Medina, asserting that they represent a violation of the sanctity of Islamic holy sites and a serious escalation that threatens the security and stability of the region.

The Secretary-General indicated that building sustainable regional security is based on five main foundations, the first of which is respect for international law and state sovereignty, adherence to principles of good neighborliness, non-interference in internal affairs, and peaceful resolution of disputes. He referred to Security Council Resolution No. (2817) issued on March 11, 2026, which was presented by the Kingdom of Bahrain on behalf of the member states and Jordan, and received joint sponsorship from (136) countries, emphasizing the importance of implementing the resolution and its requirements.

He stated that the second foundation is collective defense and Gulf military integration, praising the readiness of the armed forces of the member states to confront aggressions, and referring to the directives of the leaders of the member states during their 19th consultative meeting in Jeddah last April, to intensify military integration and expedite the completion of the early warning system against ballistic missiles.

He pointed out that the third foundation is diplomacy and the peaceful resolution of disputes, reviewing the relationships of the member states and their international partnerships with the United States, Europe, China, India, and Asian countries, as well as communication channels with neighboring countries, including Iran, emphasizing that the success of diplomatic efforts requires mutual will and responsible responses from all parties.

Regarding the fourth foundation, he stressed that maritime navigation security and energy supplies are a shared international responsibility, and that disrupting navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb represents a threat to global economic interests, calling on the international community to stop the aggressions and hold those responsible accountable, and to restore navigation to normalcy. He clarified that the member states are working to enhance the resilience of energy supplies through oil and gas pipeline projects, studying the establishment of strategic reserves, and accelerating electricity and water interconnection projects and the Gulf railway.

He indicated that the fifth foundation is achieving stability through development and international partnerships, noting that the size of the economies of the member states is approximately (2.4) trillion dollars, which enhances their ability to face crises and support regional and international stability.

He affirmed the continued support of the member states for the legitimate government in Yemen and reaching a comprehensive political solution to the crisis based on the agreed-upon references, as well as supporting the security, stability, and sovereignty of Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon, stressing that achieving lasting peace in the region is linked to reaching a fair and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue based on the two-state solution, alongside enhancing water and food security and addressing climate challenges.

Al-Budaiwi concluded by emphasizing that regional security cannot be based solely on power balances, but requires international rules respected by all parties, and a security system in which the countries of the region participate in its formulation, reiterating the readiness of the Gulf Cooperation Council states to contribute to building it according to the Council's vision for regional security launched in 2024.