Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary General Jassim Mohammed Al-Budawi visited the Unified Military Command (UMC) headquarters in Riyadh on March 15, 2026. This visit has taken place at a time when armies in the Gulf countries are on high alert since March 11. ‘Gulf Shield 2026’ military exercise is currently going on in Saudi Arabia. During this, the Secretary General took stock of the preparations of the army and clarified that the security of all GCC countries is interconnected.
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What is Unified Military Command and its objective?
The Unified Military Command is based in Riyadh and helps the armies of the GCC countries work together. This includes the forces of Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman.
The Secretary General said during his visit that a threat to any one member country would be considered a threat to all countries. For this, importance has been given to the rights of self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter.
Currently, to strengthen the security of these countries, a ‘layered security architecture’ is being prepared by combining the American Patriot and THAAD systems. Its objective is to prevent any external threat and maintain peace in the region.
What does this mean for expatriates living in the Gulf?
Millions of Indians and other expatriates live in the Gulf countries. The main objective of this alert and exercise of the army is to maintain complete security in the area so that the common people do not face any problem.
According to officials, this military preparation ensures the security of sea routes and essential infrastructure. There is no need for the general public and the international market to fear this. Currently, a huge budget of 243 billion dollars is being spent in the defense sector so that everyone remains safe.
Along with military preparations, avenues of diplomacy and dialogue are also open. Many officials, including the Foreign Minister of Oman, have clarified that the option of resolving disputes through dialogue will always be open.