Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council: There is no sovereignty with duality of weapons

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The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Jassim Al-Budaiwi, affirmed that the presence of armed groups outside the framework of state institutions represents a challenge that goes beyond security dimensions, affecting the sovereignty of states, the independence of their national decisions, and their ability to enforce the law and protect their borders and citizens. He emphasized the steadfast position of the GCC countries in this regard, stating: "There is no sovereignty with duality of weapons, and there is no stability with military decisions outside state institutions."

This came during the opening speech delivered by Al-Budaiwi at the seminar "Challenges Related to Armed Groups Outside the State," organized by the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council on Monday, September 21, 2026, in New York City, with high-level international participation and the attendance of several ministers and senior officials, on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, coinciding with the International Day of Peace.

In contrast, the Secretary-General pointed out that investing in peace is not limited to ending conflicts after they erupt, but begins with building a strong state with its institutions, capable of protecting its citizens, enforcing the law, and providing security, justice, and opportunities, and enjoying the trust of the community it serves.

In parallel, he added that the weakness of state institutions and the decline in their ability to exert authority over their entire territory create security and political vacuums that armed groups may exploit to expand their influence and challenge the state in its competencies and national decisions.

He indicated that the danger of this phenomenon multiplies when armed groups possess weapons and resources independently, or are linked to external entities that provide them with funding, armament, and training, pointing out that this phenomenon has become a growing global challenge, as the region has witnessed the use of armed groups of missiles and drones, threatening neighboring countries and international navigation.

In the same context, Al-Badawi pointed out that the Gulf Cooperation Council countries base their position on the United Nations Charter and international legitimacy resolutions, which emphasize the necessity of establishing state authority and restricting weapons to its legitimate institutions, recalling the Gulf role in supporting political solutions and strengthening state institutions, including the Taif Agreement in 1989, and the Gulf Initiative and its executive mechanism in Yemen in 2011.

He affirmed that the Council countries continue to support the efforts of the countries in the region, including Yemen, Lebanon, Iraq, and Syria, to establish the rule of law and restrict weapons to the state, alongside supporting recovery and development efforts and addressing the humanitarian impacts of conflicts.

At the end of his speech, the Secretary-General called on the international community to assume its responsibilities in stopping the flow of weapons, funding, training, and military technologies to armed groups, holding accountable the countries and entities that support them, and ensuring the strict implementation of arms embargo decisions.

He also called for tightening control over the transfer of missiles, drones, and their components, and supporting governments in enhancing the capabilities of their military, security, and judicial institutions, linking disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration programs to development and reconstruction efforts, affirming that the Gulf Cooperation Council countries will remain a support for the countries in the region in regaining their full sovereignty, and an active partner for the United Nations and the international community in maintaining regional and international peace and security.