Kuwait to host GCC’s advanced military command headquarters as gcc agrees amid regional tensions
Kuwait headquarters plan
The GCC General Secretariat announced the agreement on Tuesday, after defence ministers from member states met in Bahrain. The plan calls for an advanced base for the council’s Unified Military Command in Kuwait, alongside the deployment of forces described as appropriate.
No information has been released about the headquarters’ design, its timetable, or the size and composition of the forces. The GCC brings together Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Collective defence role
The Unified Military Command was created at a GCC summit in Kuwait in December 2013. Its purpose is to oversee joint operations and support collective protection of members’ territory, airspace, maritime areas and interests.
GCC leaders have stressed closer defence cooperation in response to current and future threats. In a statement, the group said its leaders regarded strengthening the Gulf partnership as important to meeting those challenges.
Regional security pressures
Most GCC countries host major United States military installations. They were also targeted by Iranian missiles and drones in the weeks after the US-Israel war on Iran began on February 28.
The war has disrupted air travel and shipping, while prompting concern about the safety of the region’s oil and gas exports. Fighting in Yemen has also intensified between the Iran-aligned Houthis and forces backed by Saudi Arabia, after a United Nations-brokered ceasefire largely in place since 2022 collapsed in July.
Attacks in Saudi Arabia
The Houthis have struck locations in Saudi Arabia, including Riyadh. Last month, an attack by the group on King Khalid international airport in the capital killed 14 people and wounded more than 300.
The assault was described as the deadliest attack on the kingdom in more than a decade. It has added to uncertainty across a region already facing conflict and security concerns.
Key points
- The GCC plans an advanced Unified Military Command headquarters in Kuwait.
- Officials have not specified troop numbers or provided further details about the facility.
- The command was established in 2013 to oversee joint operations and collective defence.
- Regional conflict has disrupted transport and heightened concern over energy exports.