His Excellency Mr Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), participated in the "Technology Diplomacy Roundtable" organised by the Digital Cooperation Organisation (DCO), in the presence of Her Excellency Ms Deemah AlYahya, Secretary General of the DCO. The session was held as part of the 23rd Doha Forum, Sunday, December 7, 2025, in the Qatari capital, Doha.
In his speech, His Excellency the GCC Secretary General pointed out that the world is witnessing an increasing reliance on digital infrastructures that underpin modern economies, essential services, and communications.
He explained that any disruption to these systems—whether through targeting submarine cables, the failure of digital identity platforms, or the spread of misinformation—could lead to instability and the disruption of vital services.
His Excellency indicated that this reality mandates the international community to strengthen solidarity and build common frameworks to maintain international digital legitimacy during cyber crises, reaffirming that the GCC will remain an active and proactive partner in supporting international efforts to achieve global and comprehensive digital security.
"The GCC states have taken significant strides through the Unified Gulf Strategy for Cybersecurity, massive investments in cloud infrastructure, and the development of human capital. This is in addition to organising joint cyber exercises that simulate real-world risks and developing digital platforms for early warning and coordination during cyber incidents," His Excellency stated.
Furthermore, His Excellency the GCC Secretary General underlined the importance of mutual support between nations when essential digital systems collapse, through technical and operational cooperation frameworks, joint incident response mechanisms, and the temporary utilisation of digital infrastructure from neighbouring countries when necessary, all while respecting national sovereignty and systemic privacy.
"Several digital sectors must receive stringent international protection to prevent escalation and protect civilian lives, including energy and fuel control systems, telecommunications networks, submarine cables, healthcare and emergency systems, financial networks, digital payment systems, government services, and logistics and transportation networks," His Excellency pointed out.
He also emphasised the necessity of establishing international "red lines" to prevent the targeting of systems whose failure could lead to serious political or military escalation, including early warning and command-and-control systems.
In conclusion, His Excellency Mr Albudaiwi reiterated that achieving peace and stability in cyberspace requires a shared political will to establish binding international rules that protect human life over technology, ensure the continuity of essential services, and safeguard the sovereignty and security of nations in a deeply interconnected world.