Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior Prince Naif, who led the Kingdom’s delegation to the meeting, said the GCC countries were able to confront many security challenges jointly in the past.
“The main challenge facing our countries today is how to protect their security and stability,” the prince said. “We should also study the challenges surrounding the Gulf security and deal with them in a professional manner,” he said.
Prince Naif praised Bahrain’s security forces for their efforts to foil a terrorist plot aimed at undermining the country’s security. “We express our solidarity with Bahrain and pledge our support to it to fight terrorism,” he added. He stressed the need for protecting GCC citizens from terrorist and extremist ideologies that use Islam as their cover.
“Everyone of us knows the importance of cooperation and taking a united stand to confront firmly and decisively the elements that weaken the security and stability of our countries,” the prince said.
“We should also develop our security capabilities and strengthen our coordination and integrated strategic plans,” Prince Naif said.
Sheikh Jaber Al-Sabah of Kuwait, who presided over the meeting, commended the security cooperation between the six countries. However, he called for greater cooperation to confront terrorist plots, organized crimes and drug trafficking.
Abdul Rahman Al-Attiyah, secretary-general of the GCC, praised Saudi Arabia’s efforts to fight drug trafficking. It has arrested several drug smugglers and traffickers during the past year. He also commended the UAE security forces for seizing a parcel that contained explosives.
