Al-Badawi: Gulf security has reached an advanced stage of integration and readiness
The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretariat, Jassem Al-Budaiwi, affirmed that Gulf security has reached an advanced stage of integration and joint readiness, stressing that the strength of the Gulf system stems from the strength of its member states and their ability to work together in confronting shared challenges.
This came during Al-Budaiwi’s participation in the “Security and History Dialogue” forum, organized by the Saudi Ministry of Interior in Riyadh under the theme “Our History and Our Future: Security and Development,” under the patronage of Saudi Interior Minister, His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud, and with the participation of more than 160 speakers, including leaders, officials, experts, and academics from within and outside the Kingdom.
Al-Budaiwi stated that the evolving nature of crime and transboundary threats necessitates a shift from reacting to crime after it occurs to anticipating it, dismantling its networks, and cutting off its resources. He highlighted the progress achieved by the GCC cooperation system in combating narcotics and money laundering crimes, as well as the completion of the draft GCC strategy to combat cybercrime and artificial intelligence-related crimes.
He added that artificial intelligence and modern technologies represent a significant opportunity to enhance security operations, while simultaneously posing new challenges due to their exploitation in sophisticated forms of crime. He emphasized that GCC member states are building their capacities to anticipate future crimes and confront them with future tools, while keeping the protection of individuals, families, and society at the core of security efforts.
He pointed to the importance of joint operational readiness, noting that joint security exercises, particularly the “Arab Gulf Security” exercise, serve as a practical manifestation of integration among the security agencies of GCC member states, raising the level of coordination, response, and handling of changing security scenarios.
Al-Budaiwi affirmed that successful experiences in GCC member states constitute a shared Gulf asset whose expertise can be exchanged and built upon. He noted that the relationship between security and development has become more interconnected amid the major transformations witnessed by GCC countries, emphasizing that security does not merely stand on the sidelines of development but rather protects its trajectory and safeguards its gains, while technology provides greater capacity to anticipate threats and protect individuals.
