GCC to build military command center in Kuwait as region simmers: What to know
GCC countries have stepped up their joint defense efforts with the announcement of a new forward command center to be headquartered in Kuwait, as tensions between Iran and the US continue to escalate.
The six Gulf Cooperation Council member states approved the establishment of a forward military command center in Kuwait on Tuesday amid regional tensions stemming from the Iran war.
What happened: The announcement came during a meeting in Manama of the GCC’s Joint Defense Council, attended by defense ministers from the bloc’s member states: Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain.
In a statement, GCC Secretary General Jasem Al Budaiwi said that the forward command center will be headquartered in Kuwait. Budaiwi did not specify when the center would be established or what forces would be assigned to it. It also remains unclear if it will serve as an operational hub or as a facility to jointly monitor threats.
A forward command center is a facility to command and coordinate operations close to active flashpoints. Budaiwi said the center will come under the GCC’s Unified Military Command, a joint force established in 2013 to manage joint military operations and enhance member states' defense capabilities against potential threats.
