Lloyd J. Austin III Secretary of Defence | Official website
The United States and members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) convened a meeting of U.S.-GCC Defense Working Groups on Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) and Maritime Security in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on May 22, 2024.
Assistant Secretary General for Military Affairs Major General Eisa Al Mohannadi chaired the GCC delegation, while Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (DASD) for the Middle East Daniel Shapiro led the U.S. side. The discussion included all GCC members along with senior representatives from U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), Joint Staff, Missile Defense Agency (MDA), and Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA).
In the IAMD Working Group, participants agreed on urgent assessments of air threats in the region, including missiles and unmanned aerial systems (UAS) that jeopardize regional stability. The group discussed multilateral efforts to counter these threats amid destabilizing activities by malign actors in the Middle East. The Department of Defense and U.S. Central Command briefed attendees on initiatives to enhance integration of air and missile defense and early warning systems across the region. Both parties committed to prioritize IAMD through multilateral mechanisms to develop capabilities against shared threats. They also anticipated the kick-off meeting for the GCC Early Warning Study later this summer, which aims to lay the groundwork for an integrated air and missile defense system.
In the Maritime Security Working Group, discussions underscored the importance of freedom of navigation and adherence to international law in regional waters. The United States and GCC emphasized multilateral efforts to improve information sharing, counter proliferation, and increase effectiveness in combined interdictions. The group addressed the malign activities of Houthi militias affecting maritime security, stressing international support to maintain trade flow and energy supplies globally. They reviewed current duties of the Combined Maritime Force (CMF), focusing on counter-smuggling operations and strengthening intelligence cooperation among participating states.
Both working groups aimed to advance strategic cooperation between attendees, building on discussions from the 2023 round of meetings. The United States and GCC member states affirmed their commitment to continue periodic working groups focused on IAMD and Maritime Security.
