The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Jassim Al-Budaiwi, said GCC member states have activated alternative logistics corridors and redirected shipments from Gulf ports to ports on the Red Sea and Arabian Sea to protect global supply chains amid escalating regional tensions.
Speaking during a virtual ministerial meeting on the initiative titled “Supporting Food Security and Access to Fertilizers,” Al-Budaiwi said the measures are supported by customs and logistical facilitations designed to ensure the uninterrupted flow of essential supplies and maintain global demand for energy and fertilizers.
The meeting was attended by Antonio Tajani, Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and former President of the European Parliament and Gordan Radman, Croatia’s Minister of Foreign and European Affairs.
Al-Budaiwi said the discussions were held against the backdrop of what he described as “blatant Iranian attacks” on GCC countries and continued disruptions to maritime navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, developments that have highlighted the close connection between regional security and global food security.
According to Al-Budaiwi, nearly 7,000 ballistic missile and drone attacks have allegedly been launched by Iran and affiliated groups against GCC states over 45 consecutive days since February 28. He said the attacks targeted civilian infrastructure, oil and gas facilities, and key energy installations, resulting in casualties, material damage, and disruptions to global energy markets and supply chains.
The GCC chief warned that any disruption to maritime navigation or closure threats involving the Strait of Hormuz amount to “blackmail against the entire world,” describing such actions as violations of international law, the United Nations Charter, and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Al-Budaiwi welcomed United Nations Security Council Resolution 2817, which condemned attacks on maritime routes and called for an immediate halt to threats against navigation in the Arabian Gulf and surrounding waterways. He noted that Iran has yet to comply with the resolution.
Highlighting the wider economic impact, Al-Budaiwi said disruptions to maritime trade have led to shortages in oil, gas, petrochemical products, and agricultural fertilizers, with urea prices rising by 30 to 40 percent. He stressed the need for coordinated international action to stabilize prices, secure shipping lanes such as the Bab al-Mandab, and protect global energy security and supply chains through diplomacy and international cooperation.
