Saudi Arabia calls to strengthen U.S., GCC security cooperation

Saudi Arabia called yesterday to strengthen security co-operation between the Gulf Co-operation Council, GCC and the U.S. against regional instability.

Saudi Crown Prince and Defence Minister Salman bin Abdul Aziz, said in Jeddah during a meeting between the U.S. Secretary of Defence Chuck Hagel and his Gulf counterparts “We meet today amid persistent threats to the region’s security and stability which require us to co-ordinate our political and defence plans”.

Prince Salman said the security challenges “whether internal crises or illegal aspirations of some countries in the region, have repercussions not only to the GCC countries, but also to our regional security and global peace”.

Prince Salman believes that “the threats make the GCC countries and the international community responsible to deter them, most notably the United States which shares economic and security interdependence and an ongoing commitment to achieving security and stability in the region”.

U.S. Secretary of Defence met with his GCC counterparts amid several disagreements on Iran, Syria and Egypt.

The Crown Prince said “Political crises plaguing some Arab countries and attempts to acquire weapons of mass destruction and meddling of certain states are among the issues confronting the GCC” which “requires us to double our efforts and co-ordinate our positions to respond to them”.