By Mohammed Al Ragawi and Rania Abu Shamala
ISTANBUL (AA) - Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi said Wednesday that the partnership between GCC states and the US is a “strategic necessity” that ensures security.
He made the remarks during a meeting of the GCC foreign ministers with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in New York.
In his speech, Albudaiwi stressed that the partnership with Washington remains “a strategic necessity” that guarantees security for everyone.
He also reiterated the Gulf bloc’s condemnation of the Sept. 9 Israeli attack on the Qatari capital Doha, emphasizing that “any aggression against a Gulf state is an aggression against all GCC countries.”
The Israeli attack killed five Hamas members and a Qatari security officer and drew widespread Arab and international condemnation, with calls for Israel to be held accountable.
Albudaiwi stressed the need for an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire in Gaza, where more than 65,400 Palestinians have been killed in a brutal Israeli assault since October 2023.
The GCC chief also affirmed the importance of respecting Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, noting that Syria’s security and stability are a fundamental pillar of regional stability.