Relations between the Gulf Cooperation Council states and India are gaining momentum, driven by a shared will to deepen cooperation in the service of common interests and regional security, stability and prosperity, GCC Secretary General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi said.

He was speaking on Friday at the 2nd GCC-India Joint Ministerial Meeting, held on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly and co-chaired by Bahrain's Foreign Minister Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, chairman of the current session, and India's Minister of External Affairs Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, with GCC foreign ministers taking part.

Albudaiwi said both sides give high priority to implementing the Joint Action Plan adopted in 2024, building on technical meetings to turn agreed frameworks into practical projects. He described the start of GCC-India Free Trade Agreement negotiations as a pivotal step and called for deeper cooperation in energy, technology, innovation, digital transformation, industry, agriculture and services, with more room for the private sector and cross-border investment.

He also urged continued coordination on countering terrorism and violent extremism, dealing with conflicts and humanitarian crises, sharing expertise and aligning positions in multilateral forums, as well as partnerships in culture, academia, research and technology.

On the region, he referred to the Iranian attacks on GCC states since 28 February 2026, although the GCC states are not parties to the conflict, saying the disruption of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz showed the direct link between safe regional sea routes, global energy security and supply chains. He stressed the need for Iran's full compliance with UN Security Council Resolution 2817 and for maritime traffic through Hormuz and Bab Al-Mandab to be restored unconditionally to the situation before that date.

Albudaiwi praised India's position rejecting the attacks on GCC states and supporting international efforts to secure shipping and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and expressed hope the meeting would strengthen the GCC-India Strategic Dialogue and open new avenues of cooperation.