Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni sat in Sakhir Palace, witnessing Gulf unity as the 46th Gulf Cooperation Council Summit ended in Manama.
The Sakhir Declaration gained weight from a year where missiles lit up Qatar’s skies twice.
The Shock of Vulnerability
The declaration states that violating one member’s sovereignty endangers everyone, a stance grounded in trauma.
Gulf states state unity after Qatar saw Iranian missiles target Al Udeid Air Base in June and an Israeli airstrike in September kill six people.
GCC Secretary General Jasem Albudaiwi told the summit that attacks on Qatar proved the necessity of unified security. The 9 September events saw Israel strike Hamas negotiators in Doha, killing five members and Qatari Corporal Bader Saad Mohammed al-Humaidi al-Dosari.
Qatar’s condemnation called the strike illegal. The interception of the earlier Iranian attack did not stop the realisation that foreign powers could fire into their territory.
Neither major non-NATO ally standing nor hosting America’s largest regional base prevented incursions. Such events turn sovereignty into a practical survival requirement.
Self-Reliance and Internal Security
Gaps in foreign protection drove Gulf states to build internal capacity. The declaration covers cooperation against organised crime and supports joint naval efforts in Bahrain.
Tactical steps focusing on indigenous readiness include ongoing military exercises like the Ittihad 25 drill.
Leaders endorsed the Gulf Security Strategy to Combat Money Laundering for 2026.
Unified regulatory standards and intelligence sharing meet global recommendations to stop terror financing and economic subversion through better digital monitoring.
The European Bridge
Meloni’s attendance points to a change in Gulf strategy. Leaders agreed to elevate Italy-GCC interaction to a strategic partnership.
Italy acts as a conduit between the Gulf and Europe, having signed a clean energy deal with Albania and the UAE. Meloni pursues cooperation in green hydrogen and technology transfers.
Rome uses energy diplomacy to connect Gulf strategies with the Mattei Plan for Africa. The declaration lists completing the Common Market and Customs Union while prioritising artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.
European collaboration, such as France securing AI deals, speeds up efforts to broaden economies through resilience.
Energy and Environmental Realism
Seeking new energy sources fulfills economic goals. The declaration binds members to carbon emission reduction.
The European Union named hydrogen central to its future, so Gulf producers like Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Oman race to capture that market.
Leaders vow to preserve natural resources and meet net-zero targets to satisfy a willing European buyer, making environmental pledges synonymous with future revenue.
Navigating a Fractured Region
The summit received recent peace talk results and supports an independent Palestinian state, though diplomatic channels suffered damage.
Qatar noted its mediation role ended following the September attack on negotiators, which stopped immediate hopes for renewed talks.
The declaration’s stance on nuclear weapons results from regional volatility. Members repeated their call for a zone free of mass destruction weapons.
The June attack on Al Udeid following American strikes on Iranian facilities hardened the collective position. The Sakhir Declaration stands as proof that states forcing a total verification of defence bonds know they stand on the front lines.
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