Gulf ministers weigh threat to energy assets and shipping

The security of maritime navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and the protection of energy infrastructure across the Gulf moved to the center of regional diplomacy on Sunday, as Gulf foreign ministers convened in Manama amid a conflict that has already drawn thousands of ballistic missiles toward Gulf facilities. Jasem Albudaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, told the gathering that the Houthi militia’s attacks constitute deliberate criminal behavior and demanded a firm international stance, framing the issue in terms that matter directly to the region’s economic stability: the targeting of civilian and energy facilities in Saudi Arabia, and Iranian actions he said threaten shipping through one of the world’s most critical waterways.

Albudaiwi’s remarks carried a clear economic subtext. Houthi attacks, he said, have struck civilian and energy facilities in Saudi Arabia, infrastructure that underpins both the Kingdom’s revenues and wider energy markets. “We reaffirm our support for Saudi Arabia and all measures it takes to protect its security,” he said, positioning the GCC firmly behind the Kingdom’s defensive posture. He also disclosed the scale of the threat in stark terms: 7,000 ballistic missiles have targeted Gulf facilities since February 28, when the US-Iran war broke out.

Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al-Zayani, chairing the meeting, echoed the condemnation of Houthi attacks against civilians in Saudi Arabia and stressed Manama’s solidarity with any measure the Kingdom takes in self-defense. For investors and market watchers, his most consequential remarks concerned the diplomatic track: Al-Zayani voiced support for the continued mediation efforts of Oman and Qatar to end the US-Iran war, and insisted that Gulf states must be involved in any negotiations affecting their security. That demand for a seat at the table reflects the region’s direct exposure to the conflict’s economic fallout, from shipping risk in the Strait of Hormuz to the security costs borne by states defending critical infrastructure.

The Manama meetings carry weight beyond the immediate crisis. According to Asharq Al-Awsat, which earlier reported on the agenda, ministers will discuss a range of issues related to advancing joint Gulf action and review the latest regional and international developments. More significant for the GCC’s long-term positioning is the convening of the ninth Joint Ministerial Meeting of the Gulf-Russian Strategic Dialogue on the sidelines of the bloc’s 168th ministerial session, a meeting aimed at strengthening relations between the two sides and broadening the scope of their partnership across various fields.

Meanwhile, Albudaiwi stressed on Sunday that the strategic dialogue is taking place amid extremely delicate circumstances in the region. He had earlier said the Gulf-Russian meeting reflects the GCC states’ efforts to deepen their relations with countries and regional and international blocs, and to build strategic partnerships that strengthen their presence and role on the international stage. In effect, the bloc is diversifying its diplomatic portfolio at a moment when its core economic interests, energy exports and maritime trade, are under direct threat.

The institutional architecture behind that outreach dates back more than a decade. The strategic dialogue between the GCC and Russia rests on a memorandum of understanding signed by the two sides in November 2011, which established an institutional framework for developing relations, conducting political consultations, and strengthening cooperation in areas of shared interest. Albudaiwi reaffirmed ongoing efforts to advance Gulf-Russian relations in ways that serve mutual interests and deepen the partnership between the two sides, and said the talks will address ways to further develop cooperation and exchange views on issues of mutual concern in a manner that serves the interests of both sides.

For the Gulf economies, the stakes in Manama are twofold. In the short term, ministers are seeking international backing against attacks that target the facilities and shipping lanes on which regional revenues depend. In the longer term, the Gulf-Russian dialogue signals an attempt to broaden strategic partnerships and secure the bloc’s role on the international stage, even as the conflict next door tests the resilience of the region’s markets and infrastructure. Further coverage of the GCC’s position can be found at https://www.arabnews.com/middle-east/gcc-chief-houthis-criminal-behavior-calls-for-firm-international-stance-3006974.