The unprecedented escalation in our region requires concerted regional and international efforts to enhance security and stability

Jassim Al-Budaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, confirmed today that the “Third Regional Security Forum between the Gulf Cooperation Council and the European Union” is gaining utmost importance in light of the unprecedented escalation taking place in the region.

This came in a speech delivered by Al Budawi during his participation in the forum held in the Belgian capital, Brussels, in the presence of Dr. Abdullatif Al Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain, Chairman of the current session of the Ministerial Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council, and Kaya Callas, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission.

Al-Budaiwi said that Iran continues to choose escalation instead of diplomacy and dialogue, explaining that the GCC countries support the path of dialogue and diplomacy and look forward to discussing ways of sincere consultation and close coordination with the European side to deal with Iran’s dangerous behavior in the region.

He added that the time has come for the Gulf-European strategic partnership to take a new path based on the foundation laid in 1988, especially in light of the challenges posed by developments in recent months.

He explained that the Iranian attacks on oil installations in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz caused global economic repercussions. He pointed out that the regional crisis has turned into a global crisis, and stressed that these threats require re-strengthening relations between the Gulf Cooperation Council and the European Union, allowing the two sides to respond jointly instead of acting individually.

He touched on six proposed priorities for strengthening Gulf-European relations, including coordinating political and diplomatic work, enhancing cooperation in the field of regional security, accelerating work on trade corridors and alternative routes, cooperation in the field of energy, drawing lessons from the current crisis, in addition to enhancing communication between peoples by accelerating the path of visa-free movement.

Al-Budaiwi stressed that the partnership with Europe should extend beyond security cooperation to reach true integration that makes the peoples of both sides safer and their economies more resilient and stable.