KUWAIT CITY: Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi participated in the fourth high-level conference on ‘Strengthening International Counter-Terrorism Cooperation and Building Agile Border Security Mechanisms – the Kuwait Phase of the Dushanbe Process’ held on November 4 and 5. The event was organized by the State of Kuwait, in collaboration with the Republic of Tajikistan and the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), attracting ministers from multiple countries and representatives from UN specialized agencies, as well as international, regional, and civil-society organizations.
According to Saudi Press Agency, Albudaiwi expressed that Kuwait’s hosting of the conference and the participation of numerous countries and organizations underscore its regional and international status, as well as its ongoing efforts to enhance security and stability in the region. The conference focused on critical issues of border security and counter-terrorism, emphasizing the need
for collective action and ongoing cooperation to address these challenges.
Albudaiwi highlighted that border security is essential not only for maintaining state sovereignty but also for tackling transnational threats such as arms smuggling, human trafficking, drug trafficking, and terrorism financing. He pointed out that GCC countries have taken significant steps to enhance border security through advanced technology and intensified cooperation among member states.
The secretary-general noted the rise in regional challenges and emphasized the significant efforts made by GCC countries to combat terrorism. He credited the effective exchange of security information, development of national legislation against terrorism financing, and implementation of anti-extremism programs for limiting the spread of extremist ideologies and addressing security threats.
Albudaiwi further elaborated on the GCC’s commitment to building a common security system through joint security agreements, which have proven effective in
enhancing collaboration in border protection. These agreements have facilitated ongoing coordination among member states in monitoring land, sea, and air borders.
He concluded by emphasizing the comprehensive strategies employed by GCC countries, which include security cooperation, intelligence coordination, development of security infrastructure, and specialized personnel training, to maintain border security and combat terrorism.