GCC approves advanced military command in Kuwait to strengthen Gulf defence cooperation

The decision was among several measures agreed at the 23rd session of the GCC Joint Defence Council in Manama on Tuesday.The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has approved the opening of an Advanced Command for its Unified Military Command in Kuwait, alongside the allocation of appropriate military forces to it.The decision was among several measures agreed at the 23rd session of the GCC Joint Defence Council in Manama, Bahrain, on Tuesday, 10 November.The meeting was chaired by Bahrain’s Minister of Defence Affairs, Lieutenant General Abdullah bin Hassan Al Nuaimi, and attended by defence ministers from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain.Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs, Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan bin Ali Al Thani, was among those in attendance. In a post on X following the meeting, Sheikh Saoud stressed the importance of a unified Gulf position in addressing regional challenges. شاركتُ في أعمال الدورة الثالثة والعشرين لمجلس الدفاع المشترك لدول مجلس التعاون لدول الخليج العربية، والتي شكلت فرصة لتأكيد أهمية وحدة الموقف الخليجي، وتعزيز مسارات التكامل الدفاعي، بما يخدم أمن دولنا ويحافظ على استقرارها في مواجهة التحديات.وأعرب عن خالص الشكر والتقدير لمملكة… pic.twitter.com/3nkRs5SikC— سعود بن عبدالرحمن (@SaoudAlthani7) November 10, 2026 He said the discussions provided an opportunity to reaffirm the importance of Gulf unity and advance defence integration to protect member states’ security and stability. The deputy prime minister also thanked Bahrain for hosting the meetings and for its hospitality.GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed AlBudaiwi said the decision reflected the attention and support that the leaders of GCC states give to joint military action.“The GCC’s joint military action receives the utmost attention, care, and support from Their Majesties and Highnesses the Leaders of the GCC states, stemming from their belief in the bonds of cohesion uniting the member states,” AlBudaiwi said.“This also reflects their awareness of the responsibility of the armed forces in the GCC states to secure their safety and stability, safeguard their independence, and develop and advance them to keep pace with the hopes and aspirations placed upon them.” GCC reaffirms commitment to joint military actionAlBudaiwi said GCC leaders had consistently emphasised the importance of strengthening joint military action to equip the bloc to address current and future challenges.He also referred to directives issued by GCC leaders during an extraordinary meeting in Jeddah last April, which called for reinforcing joint Gulf military action to protect member states’ security and sovereignty and strengthen their ability to address shared threats.Addressing recent regional developments, AlBudaiwi praised the military cooperation and coordination among GCC states in responding to what he described as Iranian attacks.He said the coordination demonstrated Gulf unity and integration, adding that the security of GCC states was a shared responsibility.AlBudaiwi also praised the courage and efficiency of GCC armed forces in countering the attacks and paid tribute to military personnel killed during the recent events. He expressed condolences to their families and wished those injured a speedy recovery.The secretary-general condemned Iranian attacks on GCC states, saying they had damaged civilian objects and infrastructure.He also condemned Houthi militia assaults on Saudi Arabia and their targeting of holy sites.“These assaults constitute a flagrant violation of their sanctity and status among Muslims, and a blatant transgression against the security and sovereignty of the Kingdom,” AlBudaiwi said.He reaffirmed the GCC’s solidarity with Saudi Arabia and its support for measures taken by the Kingdom to defend its security, stability, territorial integrity and holy sites.AlBudaiwi said the 23rd session had reached several significant decisions aimed at advancing joint Gulf military cooperation and strengthening integration among member states.Qatar’s longstanding calls for stronger Gulf cooperation The decision comes as Qatar has repeatedly called for greater coordination among GCC states to address shared security challenges.During his address to the United Nations General Assembly on September 22, the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani renewed Qatar’s call for a regional collective security system based on respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and peaceful dispute resolution. Sheikh Tamim said the absence of such a framework had contributed to the region’s vulnerability to conflicts and disruptions affecting vital infrastructure and international navigation.Speaking at the opening of Qatar’s Shura Council session on October 13, Sheikh Tamim again emphasized the need for continued cooperation and coordination among GCC states, particularly in protecting maritime routes, energy facilities and civilian infrastructure. “These unfortunate events have once again underscored that the security of the region and the world is interconnected, and that destabilization anywhere cannot be isolated from the rest of the world. They also highlighted the necessity of continued cooperation and coordination among the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council,” he said. “The security of the GCC states and the protection of their sovereignty and stability are non-negotiable. This requires us to redouble our efforts to secure navigation in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, and to protect energy and water facilities, as well as civil infrastructure. We will continue working with our brothers and international and regional partners to keep our region stable and safe.”