The chiefs of staff of the armed forces of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states met during a session of the Supreme Military Committee in Manama on Tuesday to discuss ways to strengthen joint military cooperation. According to the Bahrain News Agency, the meeting was chaired by Bahrain’s Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Dhiab Al Nuaimi, and attended by the chiefs of staff of the GCC armed forces, Assistant Secretary-General for Military Affairs at the GCC Secretariat Maj. Gen. Isa Al Muhannadi, and Commander of the GCC Unified Military Command Maj. Gen. Abdulaziz Al Balawi. In his opening remarks, Al Nuaimi said the GCC countries were facing “systematic and painful Iranian aggression” targeting their states. He accused Iran of deliberately attacking civilians and jeopardizing maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz, saying the actions had harmed the interests of GCC countries and the wider region while endangering innocent lives in violation of international treaties, conventions, and law. The developments required stronger Gulf solidarity and a united response to confront the hostile attacks, he urged. Al Nuaimi also called for establishing a comprehensive practical framework for joint military cooperation, built on the Gulf states’ shared ties, common objectives, and existing agreements. He hoped that the meeting would serve as a launching point for stronger collective action, including coordinated measures, faster response mechanisms, and greater cooperation to safeguard the security and stability of GCC countries and the region. Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition Separately, the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC), led by its Secretary-General, Maj. Gen. Mohammed bin Saeed Al-Moghedi, participated in the Fourth United Nations High-Level Conference on Counter-Terrorism, which opened at UN headquarters in New York under the theme: “A Future Free from Terrorism: Consolidating the Global Commitment to Multi-Stakeholder Approaches to Counter Terrorism, notably through Member States’ Leadership and Action.” The conference brought together senior officials, policymakers, and representatives of governments, international and regional organizations, and counterterrorism experts. According to the Saudi Press Agency, the coalition’s participation reflects its ongoing efforts to strengthen international cooperation, unify global counterterrorism initiatives, and deepen strategic partnerships with member states and international organizations. These efforts aim to advance effective policies and practices for combating terrorism and extremism while enhancing regional and international security. The opening session featured remarks by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and other senior international officials, focusing on strengthening global commitment to counterterrorism through a comprehensive, multilateral approach involving governments, international organizations, civil society, and the private sector. Al-Moghedi said the coalition’s participation underscores its role as an active international partner in global counterterrorism efforts. Evolving international security challenges require closer coordination among countries and regional and international organizations, stronger mechanisms for joint action, and greater efforts to prevent the spread of terrorism while addressing its root causes, he stressed.
