GCC and Türkiye Extend Joint Action Plan for Cooperation Until 2029

Doha, The Gulf Observer: The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) announced the extension of its joint action plan for cooperation with Türkiye until 2029. The announcement was made by Jasem Mohamed Al Budaiwi, the Secretary-General of the GCC, during the sixth ministerial meeting for strategic dialogue between the GCC countries and Türkiye held in Doha, Qatar. The meeting saw the participation of Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.

Al Budaiwi emphasized that the meeting “provides opportunities for consultation between the two sides on international and regional issues of common interest, working together to enhance the security and stability of the region.” He also noted that the discussions “deepened the bridges of cooperation between the GCC and the Republic of Türkiye and expanded their scope,” culminating in the agreement to extend the joint action plan until 2029.

The joint action plan, initially approved during the third ministerial meeting in 2010 for the years 2011 and 2012, has been progressively developed and extended to bolster cooperation across various fields.

Highlighting the significance of recent high-level engagements, Al Budaiwi pointed to the outcomes of the Gulf-Turkish summit held in December, where GCC leaders met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Doha. These outcomes, he said, have “contributed to enhancing political, security, and economic coordination.” He also mentioned that the recent ministerial meeting marked the first such gathering since the signing of a joint statement in March to commence free trade negotiations.

“This extension is an indication of the strength of the deep strategic partnership between the GCC countries and Türkiye and signifies a qualitative leap in our strong relations,” Al Budaiwi remarked.

He praised the foundational 2008 memorandum of understanding, which established the strategic dialogue based on “historical relations and the common cultural heritage, reflecting the desire and firm conviction of the wise leaders from both sides.”

The meeting occurred against a backdrop of significant regional and international developments, including the ongoing Israeli military operations in Gaza. Al Budaiwi underscored that the meeting “comes amid worrying regional and international political and security developments, with rapid events affecting the region, particularly the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip.”

This extension of the joint action plan signifies a continued commitment to enhancing cooperation and addressing shared challenges between the GCC and Türkiye in an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape.