Doha: The 41st meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Interior Ministers convened today in Doha, chaired by Qatari Minister of Interior and chairman of the current session Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. Minister of Interior Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz delivered a speech during the meeting, conveying greetings from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and their best wishes for the meeting’s success.

According to Saudi Press Agency, Prince Abdulaziz expressed gratitude to Qatari Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Qatari government, and Sheikh Khalifa for their hospitality and leadership. He also commended GCC Secretary-General Jassim Mohammed Al-Budaiwi and the staff of the Assistant Secretariat for Security Affairs for their efforts in organizing the event.

In his remarks, Prince Abdulaziz emphasized t
he increasing challenges faced by security services, including the rise of emerging crime patterns linked to technology misuse, advancements in drug smuggling and trafficking methods, and the proliferation of cross-border organized crime. He highlighted the smuggling and manufacture of weapons using advanced technologies now easily accessible to criminal organizations, which exacerbate crime, terrorism, and extremism, particularly in regions experiencing instability.

The minister underscored the importance of joint efforts to develop strategies and enhance capabilities to address these challenges. He noted that the meeting’s outcomes would strengthen Gulf security cooperation, align with the GCC leaders’ directives, and fulfill the aspirations of their people. Such efforts, he said, aim to bolster regional security, stability, and prosperity.

The interior ministers discussed key agenda items to advance joint security collaboration among GCC member states. Accompanying Prince Abdulaziz were a delegation of h
igh-ranking ministry officials.