Manama: Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), stressed that GCC states will remain a beacon of stability and a reliable partner to the world, noting that they will not accept being a target for aggression, a ground for proxy conflicts, or a victim of deception and bad faith. He emphasised that the territorial sovereignty of GCC states must be respected and that the security of their peoples is non-negotiable, adding that respect for international law is the only path to ensuring peace and stability in the region.
According to Bahrain News Agency, Albudaiwi made the remarks during his speech at the joint ministerial meeting between the GCC and the European Union (EU), held today via videoconference. The meeting was chaired by Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain and President of the current session of the Ministerial Council, with the participation of Kaja Kallas, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission, in the presence of the foreign ministers of the GCC and EU states.
The GCC Secretary-General said the meeting comes at a critical moment in the region’s history as crises intersect and events accelerate, testing the international community’s commitment to the principles of the international order. He noted that GCC states have long been a cornerstone of stability, a key element in regional and international reconciliations, a reliable source of global energy, and a responsible partner in the international economy.
However, he noted that this peaceful approach has been met with missile attacks and drone strikes launched by the Islamic Republic of Iran targeting vital civilian facilities, including ports, airports, and basic infrastructure, in violation of international humanitarian law. The attacks also targeted diplomatic missions in breach of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
Albudaiwi said these actions represent a violation of Article 2, Paragraph 4 of the United Nations Charter, which prohibits the use of force against the territorial integrity of states, stressing that GCC states maintain their inherent right to self-defense in accordance with Article 51 of the Charter while remaining committed to the principles of international law.
He added that turning the territories of GCC states into a ground for settling regional scores is unacceptable under international law and cannot be justified politically. GCC states, he noted, have repeatedly affirmed to the Iranian side that their territories will not be used to launch attacks against it, recalling efforts including the resumption of Saudi-Iranian relations in 2023, the diplomatic role undertaken by the Sultanate of Oman, and the ministerial meeting held in Doha in 2024 between GCC foreign ministers and the Iranian foreign minister.
The Secretary-General also warned that closing the Strait of Hormuz and targeting commercial vessels passing through it represent a direct attack on one of the most important international maritime passages, threatening global trade and international energy security and exposing the marine environment to serious risks.
He noted that these developments are particularly significant in light of the forthcoming GCC-European meeting on energy security in Cyprus, adding that the extension of Iranian raids to Cyprus indicates that these attacks threaten not only Gulf security but also the stability of its international partners.
Albudaiwi also recalled that the European Union adopted in 2022 the document entitled “The EU Joint Communication on a Strategic Partnership with the Gulf,” which emphasised that the partnership between the EU and the GCC is based on supporting the rules-based international order and joint efforts to prevent escalation.
He noted that relations between the GCC and the EU have witnessed growing momentum in recent years, culminating in the first GCC-EU summit held in Brussels in 2024, with preparations underway for the next summit between the two sides.
The Secretary-General concluded that the developments facing the region represent a real test of the international community’s commitment to international law and global stability, stressing the responsibility of the EU, as a strategic partner, to contribute to halting these attacks. He also called on the international community to ensure that any future regional initiatives or arrangements are developed in consultation with GCC states and relevant partners, with their perspectives taken into account in future planning processes.