OMM Newsroom
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) defence ministers have agreed to establish a forward headquarters for the bloc’s Unified Military Command in Kuwait and assign forces to it, as part of efforts to strengthen joint defence cooperation.
GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi said the decision was approved on Tuesday during the 23rd session of the Joint Defense Council in Manama, Bahrain, according to Anadolu Agency, citing a statement issued by the bloc.
The meeting was chaired by Bahrain’s Minister of Defense Affairs, Lt. Gen. Abdullah bin Hassan Al Nuaimi, and attended by defence ministers from the bloc’s five other member states.
It took place amid heightened regional tensions, including Houthi missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia, concerns about a renewed military confrontation between the United States and Iran, and continuing disruptions to maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
Albudaiwi said GCC leaders attach great importance to joint military cooperation and recognize the role of their armed forces in safeguarding regional security, stability and sovereignty.
He said the meeting’s agenda included several significant decisions intended to expand military cooperation and advance defence integration among member states, without providing further details.
The GCC’s Unified Military Command is headquartered in Riyadh. It was established to coordinate joint military operations and strengthen defence cooperation among member states.
The decision follows an Oct. 29 meeting of GCC armed forces chiefs of staff in Manama, where military leaders discussed strengthening defence cooperation and coordination in response to regional security challenges.
Established in 1981, the GCC is a six-member regional organization comprising Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman. It aims to promote political, economic and security cooperation.
