GCC leaders meet in Jeddah for emergency talks on regional security

Gulf leaders gathered in Jeddah for an extraordinary consultative summit convened by the Gulf Cooperation Council amid heightened regional tensions and security concerns.

The meeting, hosted by Saudi Arabia and chaired by Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman, comes after a series of Iranian missile and drone attacks on energy and civilian infrastructure across Gulf states. The strikes followed a military offensive launched by the United States and Israel against Iran on February 28.

Although a ceasefire has been in place since April 8, officials say the situation remains fragile in the absence of a lasting agreement, with key energy facilities across the region sustaining significant damage.

Prince Mohammed received participating leaders at King Abdulaziz International Airport ahead of the summit. Those attending included Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Kuwait’s Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al Hamad Al Mubarak Al Sabah, representing the Emir. The UAE was represented by a delegation led by Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, alongside Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan.

During the meeting, Sheikh Tamim said the gathering reflects a unified Gulf position on the crisis. He warned against using the Strait of Hormuz as leverage and cautioned that the situation should not turn into a prolonged, unresolved conflict.

Dr Anwar Gargash, diplomatic adviser to the UAE President, said regional security priorities should not be shaped by external powers.

GCC officials said the summit aims to strengthen joint defence efforts and improve coordination among member states, while also addressing political and economic stability. The meeting is expected to contribute to planning future steps to manage ongoing risks across the region.