JEDDAH: In a statement issued by GCC Secretary-General His Excellency Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi following the summit in Jeddah, convened at the invitation of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, leaders discussed the escalating regional situation and explored pathways to restore stability and security.
His Excellency stated that the leaders denounced what they described as “blatant Iranian attacks” on civilian infrastructure in GCC countries and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, saying the strikes resulted in loss of life and property and constituted a serious violation of sovereignty, international law, and the UN Charter. They said the attacks had significantly eroded trust, urging Iran to take meaningful steps to rebuild confidence.
Reaffirming unity, GCC leaders stressed that the security of member states is indivisible and that any attack on one state is considered an attack on all, in line with the Joint Defence Agreement. They underscored their right to respond individually or collectively under Article 51 of the UN Charter to safeguard sovereignty and stability.
The summit also highlighted the role of GCC armed forces, praising their “courage and professionalism” in intercepting missile and drone attacks and protecting national resources. Leaders commended the swift recovery of damaged energy infrastructure and the resilience shown in maintaining supply chains and essential services despite the crisis.
In addition, the leaders rejected any attempts to disrupt maritime security, including measures affecting navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. They called for restoring freedom of navigation and returning conditions in the strategic waterway to their pre-February 28, 2026 status, warning against any imposition of transit fees or restrictions.
On the economic and development front, GCC leaders directed the General Secretariat to accelerate key joint projects, including the long-planned GCC railway, enhanced transport and logistics integration, and electricity interconnection initiatives. They also called for progress on oil and gas pipeline projects, water interconnection systems, and the study of strategic reserve facilities across member states.
The leaders further underscored the need to strengthen military integration and expedite the development of a joint early warning system against ballistic missile threats, underscoring a coordinated approach to regional security challenges.