The Jeddah Consultative Summit: Toward a Comprehensive Gulf Doctrine of Deterrence and Strategic Integration
The Jeddah Consultative Summit of the leaders and heads of delegations of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states—which recently convened for its 19th session, chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister — the consolidation of a more profound Gulf approach that transcends traditional frameworks of political coordination toward the formulation of a comprehensive doctrine based on “deterrence and strategic integration.” The summit was convened amid highly sensitive regional circumstances to establish clear parameters for addressing the escalation in the region, with a focus on coordinating common positions among GCC states and Jordan regarding direct security threats.
The added value of this meeting lies in the formulation of a unified position that goes beyond merely condemning Iran’s blatant attacks on civilian facilities, extending to the declaration of a “severe crisis of confidence” that requires Tehran to take serious and concrete initiatives to rebuild bridges. In this context, His Excellency Mr. Jassim Mohammed Al-Badawi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, stated that “these treacherous Iranian attacks have led to a severe loss of trust in Iran on the part of the GCC states, which requires Iran to take the initiative in making serious efforts to rebuild trust,” reaffirming the inherent right of GCC member states to defend their sovereignty and capabilities under international charters and mutual defense agreements.
In the context of strengthening the collective security system, field experience has demonstrated the exceptional effectiveness of the Gulf armed forces, which succeeded in neutralizing more than 95% of the missile and drone threats launched by Iran during the recent war, reflecting a high level of military readiness and combat professionalism. This success prompted leaders to direct the General Secretariat to expedite the completion of the early warning system against ballistic missiles and to intensify military integration as a fundamental pillar for protecting national gains. This security concept extends to include the protection of international waterways, specifically the Strait of Hormuz, as the summit declared a categorical rejection of any illegal measures that hinder navigation or impose unlawful fees, while emphasizing the need to restore the legal and navigational status of the strait to what it was prior to February 28, 2026, to ensure the stability of global energy flows.
On the economic and logistical front, the summit adopted a proactive vision aimed at fortifying GCC countries against supply chain volatility and geopolitical turmoil by accelerating major integration projects. This is reflected in the direct directives to complete the requirements of the Gulf Railway project and to begin construction of an oil and gas pipeline network that provides secure export alternatives, alongside comprehensive water and electricity interconnection projects. This approach also includes a study on establishing unified Gulf strategic stockpile zones, which reflects the “shock-resistant economy” strategy. This strategy ensures the sustainability of essential resources and the highly efficient flow of logistical services even under the most challenging security conditions, thereby enhancing member states’ resilience and their ability to navigate crises with wisdom and competence.
The current crisis has demonstrated the effectiveness of the GCC’s integrated vision; the wisdom shown in managing the situation and the speed with which damaged infrastructure was repaired have revealed a high capacity to mitigate risks and secure supply chains. This maturity represents a cumulative asset that proves that protecting national gains is the foundation for building a strong Gulf entity capable of safeguarding the security of its peoples and territories. This cohesion also strengthens the GCC states’ ability to build balanced strategic partnerships with international powers, based primarily on prioritizing shared Gulf interests and ensuring that international cooperation serves as a catalyst for regional stability and prosperity.
In conclusion, the outcomes of the Jeddah Summit reflected a firm political will to intensify coordination aimed at containing security and economic repercussions, while leveraging current circumstances as a springboard to enhance self-reliance and develop defense mechanisms and joint economic action to ensure comprehensive stability. While the GCC states support existing diplomatic channels and international mediation efforts, they leave the door open to reason, as all pending issues and files remain subject to reassessment and review should there be a genuine will for mutual cooperation based on respect for sovereignty. The Gulf system’s ability to take the lead in both practical and political initiatives is today the surest guarantee for establishing calm in the region and securing the future of coming generations.
Note: This article has been automatically translated, the full article is available in Arabic.
Tasneem Abdulla Isa, Research Associate
