Brussels, July 13 (QNA) - Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi said that GCC states support the path of dialogue and diplomacy, whereas Iran continues to choose escalation instead.

Speaking at the 3rd GCC-EU Regional Security Forum held in Belgium Monday, Albudaiwi added, "Iranian attacks on oil facilities in the GCC states and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have led to a global slowdown, with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) lowering its global growth forecast for 2026 to 3.1 percent."

Highlighting how this regional shock has transformed into a global shock that is impacting the economies of both the GCC and Europe, the GCC Secretary General said, "These new threats resulting from this war necessitate reinforcing the GCC-EU relationship, allowing both sides to respond jointly rather than individually."

He added, "Holding the 3rd GCC-EU Regional Security Forum at this time is of utmost significance in light of the unprecedented escalation taking place in our region."

Outlining six proposed priorities for bolstering Gulf-European relations, Albudaiwi said, "First, coordinated political and diplomatic action; second, cooperation in regional security; third, connectivity by accelerating work on trade corridors and alternative routes; fourth, energy cooperation; fifth, drawing lessons from the current crisis; and finally, people-to-people communication while accelerating the visa-free mobility track as a practical foundation for engagement."

The GCC Secretary General said that the partnership with Europe must extend beyond security toward true integration, adding, "a partnership that makes our peoples more secure and our economies more resilient and stable." (QNA)