In a recent development, the 45th session of the Supreme Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) was hosted by the State of Kuwait on 1st December, 2024. Under the leadership of HH Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the summit was attended by the leaders of the GCC member states of Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE. The Gulf Cooperation Council is a political and economic alliance of the aforementioned six countries and was established in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in May 1981.
The GCC aims to promote economic, security, cultural and social cooperation amongst the member states, with the presidency of the council rotating annually. The summit convenes every year to discuss cooperation and regional affairs.
Highlights of this year’s GCC Summit: The Kuwait Declaration
HH Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah commenced the opening session of the Council as he welcomed the leaders and other esteemed guests. HH Al-Sabah mentioned that the summit is taking place amidst highly complex circumstances. The opening session also included speeches by the GCC Secretary General Jassem Al-Budaiwi and the Head of the delegation from Oman, Deputy Prime Minister for Cabinet Affairs Sayyid Fahad bin Mahmoud Al-Said.
Thereafter, the GCC leaders and representatives held the closed session on the Summit’s agenda and issued the concluding statement and the Kuwait declaration. The declaration so issued at the end of the Summit included the leaders praising the increasing role of GCC countries in addressing political and economic challenges, both at the regional and the global level. They also applauded their contributions in resolving issues that threaten peace, security and stability while promoting international dialogue and fostering connections among nations.
The leaders also emphasised the region’s growing significance as a business and economic hub, focussing on sustainable economic diversification and digital transformation, with the declaration also outlining ambitious plans for developing unified digital markets, advancing e-commerce and strengthening cyber-security cooperation among member states.
On the political front, the declaration emphasised the urgent need to end Gaza conflict.
