RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman has held talks on regional defense cooperation with officials from the Gulf Cooperation Council.
He was heading the Kingdom’s delegation at the 18th session of the Joint Defense Council of the GCC Ministers of Defense, which was held in Riyadh on Monday, chaired by Bahraini Minister of Defense Affairs Lt. Gen. Abdullah Al-Nuaimi and in the presence of GCC Secretary-General Nayef Al-Hajraf.
“During the meeting, we discussed aspects of coordination and integration among the GCC states in the defense field in a way that enhances the security and stability of the region,” Prince Khalid said on Twitter.
He said that his country was looking forward to hosting the 19th session of the Joint Defense Council.
The council took decisions and recommendations that are to be submitted at an upcoming summit of the Supreme Council of GCC leaders.
Meanwhile, under the patronage of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Prince Khalid inaugurated the headquarters of the Unified Military Command in Riyadh, in the presence of Gulf defense officials.
Lt. Gen. Eid bin Awad Al-Shalawi, commander of the GCC’s Unified Military Command, delivered a speech during the opening ceremony in which he expressed his thanks and appreciation to the defense ministers and stressed the importance of the joint Gulf defense work process. 
The new headquarters has been established in an effort to strengthen the bonds of cohesion between the GCC states, and realize the importance of joint Gulf defense action in order to achieve regional security and stability.