Al-Yasin: Respect for the sovereignty of the Gulf states and the integrity of their territories
The Kuwaiti Ambassador to the Republic of Indonesia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Khaled Al-Yasin, underscored the grave danger posed by Iran’s despicable attacks on Kuwait and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, which targeted vital civilian infrastructure. These actions contravene the principles of international law and the United Nations Charter, including Security Council Resolution 2817. This statement was made in a press release issued by the Kuwaiti Embassy, quoting Ambassador Al-Yasin’s remarks during the third meeting between the GCC ambassadors to ASEAN and the Committee of Permanent Representatives to ASEAN, held at the ASEAN Secretariat headquarters in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The meeting was co-chaired by Bahraini Ambassador to Indonesia Ahmed Al-Hajri and Singaporean Ambassador to ASEAN Gerard Ho.
The statement noted that Ambassador Al-Yasin called for the importance of respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of GCC states, as well as safeguarding freedom of navigation and safe passage through international waterways, thereby ensuring the stability of global trade and the international economy.
For his part, the Singaporean Ambassador expressed his country’s solidarity and sympathy with the GCC states, affirming that Singapore calls for an end to hostilities, respect for international law, and the peaceful resolution of disputes.
The meeting, in a joint statement, emphasized both sides’ commitment to strengthening the partnership between the GCC and ASEAN, highlighting the complementary nature of this partnership in priority sectors, which serves the mutual interests of both parties.
The statement highlighted the importance of enhancing bilateral cooperation and expanding economic, security, and technical collaboration. It noted that the meeting reviewed progress made in implementing the ASEAN-GCC Cooperation Framework for the period 2024–2028.
Furthermore, the meeting discussed preparations for the upcoming meeting of the ASEAN and GCC Foreign Ministers, scheduled to take place on the sidelines of the High-Level Week of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in September, as well as preparations for the Third ASEAN-GCC Summit, slated for 2027.
The statement indicated that both sides welcomed progress in cooperation between the ASEAN National Police Chiefs Organization (ASEANAPOL) and the GCC Police, including mutual participation in major events and the completion of a joint action plan. In this context, both sides stressed the importance of enhancing coordination in combating terrorism, transnational crime, and cyber threats, thereby supporting security cooperation between GCC and Southeast Asian countries.
ASEAN invited the GCC to support the implementation of ASEAN’s vision for the Indo-Pacific region, the “ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future” plan, the ASEAN Strategic Plan for Connectivity, the Smart Cities Network, sustainable development initiatives, and the Fifth Action Plan for ASEAN Integration.
The meeting also emphasized the importance of strengthening public-private partnerships and business ties, as well as expanding people-to-people exchanges between the two regions through youth and student exchange programs, media and artist collaborations, and scholarships, aiming to deliver tangible benefits to the peoples of the GCC and ASEAN countries.
ASEAN was founded on August 8, 1967, in Bangkok, Thailand, and currently comprises 11 member states: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Timor-Leste.
