Leaders and heads of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states are bracing for the Council’s 45th summit, scheduled on December 1, 2024, in Kuwait.
Under the theme The Future is Gulf, the 45th GCC Summit will address various topics of common interest, with a special focus on the latest international and regional developments, most notably in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon. The GCC leaders will also stress the need for more joint action amid the ongoing regional challenges.
4 Decades of Achievements
Ahead of the Summit, the Secretary-General of the GCC, Jasem Al-Budaiwi, highlighted the accomplishments of the GCC over four decades, as a result of cooperation and integration among the Council’s member countries.
During a media dialogue session, held on Friday as part of the GCC Weeks’ activities in Kuwait, Al-Budaiwi said: “This was achieved thanks to the wise guidance of the late founding leaders of the GCC countries and the current leaders based on their belief in the lofty goals of this blessed journey and for the good and prosperity of their peoples, and to protect their security and stability.”
Al-Budaiwi added that the tireless efforts of the GCC leaders have elevated the status of Gulf countries worldwide, enabling the signing of multiple agreements and building partnerships that serve the goals of the GCC.
“These achievements in all fields, as well as the signing of many agreements are aimed at strengthening cooperation in all areas for the blessed journey of the Council and achieving a decent life for its citizens,” he noted.
The GCC is a regional organization that includes 6 Gulf countries: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Since its foundation in 1981, the GCC has held 44 regular summits, 17 consultative summits, 4 extraordinary summits, and 6 summits with non-GCC countries.
GCC Global Standing
The GCC Secretary-General pointed to the Council’s prestigious status on the international stage, owing to its unified foreign policy that promotes global peace and security, reported the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA).
Al-Budaiwi said that the international community views the GCC countries as “a reliable and credible strategic partner with no hidden agenda.” He added that the 45th Summit builds on the hard work of the joint committees over the year to achieve integration among member states.
Furthermore, Al-Budaiwi pointed to the GCC countries economic status, noting that they have the world’s largest reserves of crude oil and natural gas, producing around 16 million barrels of crude oil per day.
He added that by the end of 2023, the value of the Gulf stock markets reached $4 trillion, while the GCC countries’ economies combined rank 12th globally. Meanwhile, the GCC countries have sovereign wealth funds with assets worth about $4.4 trillion, 34% of the total assets of the world’s largest 100 sovereign wealth funds.
Al-Budaiwi also mentioned the GCC electricity interconnection project, saying its goals include addressing power shortage at rush hours, cutting carbon emissions, and reducing the costs of setting up fiber optic networks.
45th GCC Summit Agenda
The 45th Summit of the GCC countries will focus on a wide range of topics, with a special focus on political and economic issues, according to KUNA. In the light of this, the Kuwaiti Foreign Minister, Abdullah Al-Yahya, said that the Summit’s agenda will include discussions on strategic partnerships, in addition to topics such as cybersecurity, and the progress in electrical and railway interconnection among GCC countries.
Held against the backdrop of regional tensions, the GCC Summit holds significance as it provides a platform to strengthen cooperation among member countries and support stability in the region.
On this matter, the Secretary-General of the Arab Media Forum, Madhi Al-Khamees, told KUNA that it is important for the GCC countries to avoid conflicts that may harm their interests, while supporting Arab issues, most notably the Palestinian issue, by adopting firm positions.
Similarly, the Professor of Political Sciences at Kuwait University, Ayed Al-Manna, emphasized that security and economic issues are of a top priority to the Summit. He also noted that increased cooperation among GCC countries boosts opportunities of economic success and development, which contribute to regional stability.
GCC Ministerial Meeting
In preparation for the 45th Summit, the GCC Foreign Ministers convened on Thursday in Kuwait to discuss a diverse range of topics and agreements, with the aim of unifying stance on regional and international issues.
During the meeting, the GCC Foreign Ministers discussed key regional and international issues, including the ongoing war in Gaza and the violations against the Palestinian territories, according to Asharq Al-Awsat.
The Ministers demanded an immediate ceasefire and a fair and lasting solution to end the conflict. They also explored the latest developments in Lebanon and other regional topics, aiming to adopt a unified stance at the 45th GCC Summit on Sunday.
Moreover, the 162nd preparatory meeting for the summit reviewed reports on the implementation of the Supreme Council’s decisions issued by the 44th summit held in Doha, as well as discussing issues related to strategic relations with other countries and international blocs.
The Kuwaiti Foreign Minister, Abdullah Al-Yahya, chaired the meeting, with the attendance of heads of delegations from GCC countries, including the Saudi Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, and the GCC Secretary-General, Jassem Al-Budaiwi.
GCC Summit Honors Women
Coinciding with the 45th GCC Summit, the Council’s General Secretariat released a documentary that spotlights the role of women in the Gulf. Titled “Inspiring Gulf Woman,” the film has become available on Shahid platform on Saturday.
Inspiring Gulf Woman is a documentary that recognizes 6 women from across the GCC countries for their leading roles in serving their countries and for being a source of inspiration to other women. Nominated by their respective countries, the six women were honored on the International Women’s Day 2024 to celebrate their successful journey and highlight their achievements.
