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The General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council announced that its Secretary General, Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, signed a memorandum of understanding with Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sihasak Phuangketkeow, during a ceremony in the Thai capital. According to the GCC statement, the agreement seeks to reinforce relations of friendship and cooperation while developing frameworks for dialogue and joint coordination between the two sides. The pact aims to lift GCC-Thai relations to wider levels of partnership in areas of shared interest, the secretariat reported.
Albudaiwi emphasised that the signing represents a significant step toward enhancing ties between the GCC and Thailand, according to the official announcement from the General Secretariat. He stated that the move reflects a mutual desire to build an institutional partnership grounded in dialogue, mutual understanding and the exchange of knowledge. The Secretary General added that the MoU opens avenues for exploring fresh opportunities for collaboration that serve common interests and meet the aspirations of both parties.
The memorandum covers consultation and coordination on political and economic matters of mutual concern, the GCC General Secretariat said in its October 15 release. It also promotes cultural cooperation and closer people-to-people connections while allowing for future expansion of joint activities. Both sides intend to prepare a shared action plan that converts the understandings into concrete initiatives and programmes, the statement explained.
The signing took place on the sidelines of Albudaiwi’s participation in the 2026 annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group, a separate GCC General Secretariat announcement noted. During a preceding meeting, the two officials reviewed ways to advance cooperation that capitalises on each side’s expertise and supports development and prosperity. They underscored the value of sustained efforts to build on existing distinguished relations, the secretariat reported.
Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the MoU as a key milestone in developing relations between the kingdom and the GCC bloc. The Thai statement highlighted the presence of ambassadors from all six GCC member states as witnesses to the signing. Officials from both sides expressed hope that the framework will foster an institutional basis for deeper coordination on priority issues, according to the ministry’s account.
Bilateral trade between the GCC states and Thailand has grown steadily in recent years, with energy exports forming a substantial component of the flows, according to figures compiled by the GCC General Secretariat. The new memorandum is expected to facilitate discussion on economic issues that could further diversify exchanges beyond traditional sectors. The agreement aligns with broader GCC outreach to Asian partners aimed at securing supply chains and expanding diplomatic coordination on regional matters.
