GCC Secretary-General: Gulf security has reached an advanced stage of integration and readiness

Riyadh, Sept 6 (KUNA) -- Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jassem Al-Bedaiwi affirmed on Sunday 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 to confront shared challenges.

This came during Al-Bedaiwi’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,” with the patronage of Saudi Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud and the participation of more than 160 speakers, including leaders, officials, experts, and academics from within and outside the Kingdom.

Al-Bedaiwi said that the evolving nature of crime and cross-border threats necessitates shifting 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 increasingly sophisticated criminal patterns. 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-Bedaiwi 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 accompany development but protects its trajectory and safeguards its gains. Meanwhile, technology provides greater capacity to anticipate threats and protect individuals.

(End) K.N.S. / N.S.A.