Brussels: Speaking at the 3rd GCC-EU Regional Security Forum in the Belgian capital, Brussels, Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), emphasized that the unprecedented escalation in the region calls for combined regional and international efforts to enhance security and stability.
According to Emirates News Agency, Albudaiwi underscored the importance of the forum amidst the rising tensions, particularly highlighting Iran's preference for escalation over diplomatic solutions. He expressed the GCC's commitment to dialogue and diplomacy and the desire to engage with European counterparts to address Iran's actions in the region.
Albudaiwi elaborated on the need to redefine the GCC-EU strategic partnership, initially established in 1988, due to recent challenges. He pointed out that Iranian attacks on oil facilities in the GCC and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have triggered a global economic slowdown. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has revised its global growth forecast for 2026 to 3.1% due to the disruptions, which have impacted Europe with an energy shock for the second time in four years.
He further elaborated that the regional disturbances have escalated into a global concern affecting both GCC and European economies. This situation, he argued, necessitates a reinforced GCC-EU alliance to facilitate joint responses to these threats.
Albudaiwi proposed six priorities to strengthen Gulf-European relations: coordinated political and diplomatic action, regional security cooperation, enhanced trade connectivity, energy collaboration, lessons from the current crisis, and fostering people-to-people communication. He emphasized accelerating visa-free mobility as a practical step for engagement.
In closing, Albudaiwi advocated for a GCC-EU partnership that extends beyond security, aiming for comprehensive integration that ensures the security of their populations and the resilience and stability of their economies.
