Dr. Abdullah Al Sheikh, Chairman of the Saudi Shura Council, stressed the importance of unity of positions among the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council, whose security is an “indivisible whole,” stressing that cohesion is the first pillar for protecting their gains and peoples and preserving the stability of their region.
A statement by the heads of the Gulf Shura Councils, Representatives and Nation, following their twentieth regular meeting, on Wednesday, condemned the Iranian attacks and assaults that targeted civilian and economic facilities, vital facilities, civilian airports and residential areas in the GCC countries, and energy tankers, and the resulting casualties of innocent civilians and intimidation of the safe, in a flagrant violation of the sovereignty, security and stability of states, and a clear violation of the principles of international law, the Charter of the United Nations and the rules of good neighbourliness.
The presidents also condemned the Houthi militia’s attacks on Saudi Arabia, which targeted the Two Holy Mosques, affected civilian airports and vital installations, and claimed civilian casualties and injuries.
The statement affirmed Gulf solidarity with Saudi Arabia, and that the security of the GCC states is an indivisible whole, stressing that they reserve their natural right to self-defense, individually or collectively, and take all necessary measures to preserve their sovereignty, security, and interests, and protect their citizens and residents, in accordance with Article 51 of the United Nations Charter.
Shared international responsibility
The final statement affirmed the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Yemen, and supported efforts aimed at reaching a political solution to the Yemeni crisis through dialogue and understanding, in a way that contributes to achieving the aspirations of its people for peace, security and stability.
He pointed out that the Straits of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab are not only important to the countries of the region, but rather represent major arteries for the global economy, stressing that ensuring their security and the safety and freedom of navigation is a shared international responsibility.
The statement stressed the centrality of the Palestinian issue and the Gulf states’ firm position in support of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, reiterating the need to protect civilians, respect international law and international humanitarian law, and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to those in need in a safe, immediate, continuous and unhindered manner.
The presidents noted the importance of establishing stability and preventing renewed escalation, while supporting political and diplomatic efforts aimed at achieving a just, comprehensive and lasting peace based on the two-state solution, in accordance with international law and relevant United Nations resolutions.
The heads of the councils appreciated the results and recommendations of the symposium “The Gulf Digital Economy: Legislation, Developing Infrastructure, Enhancing Contribution to the Domestic Product, Stimulating Investments, and Enhancing the Safety of Gulf Society in Digital Platforms,” and agreed on the title “Strengthening unified Gulf parliamentary action in confronting crises and risks and ensuring the security of supply chains” as a topic for the joint Gulf symposium for the year 2027, which will be hosted and organized by the Saudi Shura Council.
They approved the proposal for a strategic dialogue between the Shura, Representative, National and Nation Councils of the GCC countries and the European Parliament, praising Bahrain’s role in signing the cooperation mechanism between the “Shura, Representatives, National and Nation Councils of the Gulf Nation” and the “Parliaments of the Latin American and Caribbean Community Countries”, during its presidency of the nineteenth periodic meeting.
The importance of unity of positions
In his speech during the meeting, which was held via video conference, the Speaker of the Saudi Shura Council drew attention to the Kingdom’s emphasis, under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, on the importance of achieving everything that would increase the bonds of interdependence and deepen cooperation between the Gulf states.
Al-Sheikh added that the meeting “is being held in a delicate circumstance that our region is going through, in light of the Iranian attacks that targeted our countries and their civilian facilities, and we renew our condemnation in the strongest terms, as they are a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of states and the principles of good neighborliness and international law, and we affirm our standing as one to confront this aggression.”
He explained that Saudi Arabia “was subjected to a continuous sinful aggression by the terrorist Houthi militia, which affected civilian installations and infrastructure and claimed the lives of innocent citizens and residents, including a number of pilgrims, and directed its sinful arrows at the Two Holy Mosques, provoking the feelings of Muslims around the world.”
The Speaker of the Saudi Shura Council stressed the strategic importance of the security of the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, freedom of navigation in them, and security of energy and supply chains, stressing his rejection of any unilateral measures that restrict navigation or threaten the vital infrastructure in them.
Al-Sheikh appreciated the efforts aimed at reducing escalation and giving priority to diplomatic solutions, stressing that any arrangements affecting the security of the region must address all sources of threat and take into account the interests of the Gulf states.
He stressed that Palestine remains the central issue for Saudi Arabia, reiterating the Kingdom’s affirmation that a just and comprehensive peace cannot be achieved except with a two-state solution and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with international legitimacy resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative, with the necessity of establishing a ceasefire in Gaza and the flow of humanitarian aid.
Promoting legislative convergence
In turn, Jassim Al-Budaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, said that the parliamentary efforts of the Gulf legislative councils contributed to strengthening legislative rapprochement and pushing the process of Gulf parliamentary work towards broader horizons. Al-Budaiwi stressed that the rapid developments taking place in the region call for consolidating the unity of the Gulf ranks and enhancing coordination and solidarity among the GCC countries, stressing that the security of the GCC countries is an indivisible whole.
He praised the results of the symposium organized by Bahrain on the Gulf digital economy, and the topics it addressed, including legislation, infrastructure development, enhancing contribution to the local product, stimulating investments, and protecting society in digital platforms, stressing the importance of benefiting from its recommendations in supporting cooperation paths in this field.
