GCC States Approve New Joint Military Headquarters in Kuwait

The six Gulf Arab states have agreed to set up a new advanced headquarters for their joint military command in Kuwait, in a step aimed at deepening defence cooperation across the Gulf. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) announced the decision on Tuesday, after defence ministers from all six member states met in Bahrain for the 23rd session of the bloc’s Joint Defence Council. Member states also agreed to deploy what the announcement described as “appropriate” military forces to the new headquarters.

FAKTA

• What happened: The six GCC states approved an advanced headquarters for their Unified Military Command, to be based in Kuwait.
• Where it was decided: At the 23rd meeting of the GCC Joint Defence Council in Manama, Bahrain, attended by the defence ministers of all six member states.
• Who announced it: GCC Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi.
• Members: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
• What is not yet known: No details were given on the size, exact location or timetable of the headquarters, or on the forces to be deployed.
• Background: The Unified Military Command was created at a GCC summit in Kuwait in December 2013.

A decision taken in Manama

The defence ministers’ meeting in Manama was chaired by Bahrain’s Minister of Defence Affairs, Lieutenant General Abdullah bin Hassan Al-Nuaimi. The GCC said the new headquarters would support the Unified Military Command and strengthen coordination between the armed forces of the six states. The command plans joint military operations and builds up the members’ shared defence capabilities, including the protection of national territory, airspace, waters and common interests.

No further details were released about the facility or the forces assigned to it, and officials in Kuwait have not yet said when the headquarters will become operational or where exactly it will be located.

A command with a long history

The Unified Military Command grew out of the Peninsula Shield Force, the GCC’s joint military arm, and was formally established in its current shape at the GCC summit held in Kuwait in December 2013. In September 2025, the Joint Defence Council directed the command to take the steps needed to activate joint defence mechanisms and Gulf deterrence capabilities under the bloc’s Joint Defence Agreement. The new headquarters is the latest step in that process, giving the command a dedicated base for planning and coordination.

A tense regional backdrop

The decision comes at a time of heightened security concern in the Gulf. Several member states have come under Iranian missile and drone attacks since the United States–Iran conflict began on 28 February, and most GCC countries also host major American military bases. The announcement did not link the headquarters decision to any single incident, but officials have pointed to the need for closer coordination in the face of regional threats.

Watan News will continue to follow the development of the new headquarters and further announcements from the GCC. More international coverage is available on Watan News.