UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash called Monday for renewed joint Gulf cooperation on security and defence, citing what he described as aggression targeting Arab Gulf states.
Gargash said in a post on X that the region faces coordinated threats. "Since the onset of the aggression against the Arab Gulf states, stemming from the aggressor's misguided assessment that they were the weakest link in a war we sought to avoid, it has become clear that we are all targeted, and that our security is indivisible," he stated.
The adviser identified Saudi Arabia as a particular focus of these threats. He argued that targeting the kingdom "undermines" the security of the entire Gulf region.
Gargash emphasized that Gulf states must strengthen their collective response. "There is a pressing need to revive joint Gulf action, particularly in its security and defense aspects, and to strengthen the collective security framework," he said. He attributed recent regional overreach by unspecified actors to what he called "grave neglect" of the security dimension of Gulf cooperation.
"Gulf security is a shared responsibility that brooks no leniency or delay," Gargash added.
The statement reflects concerns among Gulf Arab states about regional security threats. Gargash did not name the specific aggressor or aggressors in his remarks, though he referenced what he characterized as a deliberate targeting strategy based on perceived weakness.
The call for revived joint action suggests current multilateral Gulf security mechanisms may be insufficient in the view of UAE leadership. Gargash's framing of Gulf security as "indivisible" indicates an argument that threats to one member state pose risks to all.