Saudi Foreign Minister Bader bin Hamad bin Hamoud Al‑Busaidi called on Gulf states to assume collective responsibility for their security during a lecture at Girton College, Cambridge, United Kingdom. The talk, titled “Comprehensive Security in the Gulf,” addressed the region’s security challenges and outlined a proposal for a new regional dialogue. Al‑Busaidi urged the six members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to expand the discussion to include Iraq and Iran, forming an eight‑state forum. He proposed establishing a comprehensive security framework based on cooperation and mutual trust, and drafting a charter of non‑aggression among the eight littoral states. The minister highlighted the need for a shared understanding of navigation arrangements through the Strait of Hormuz. The speech referenced the 1976 meeting in Muscat, where foreign ministers of the eight Gulf states convened to explore collective security arrangements. Al‑Busaidi noted that subsequent regional transformations had stalled that ambition. He called for reviving the initiative, suggesting that the eight states could reconvene at a single table. “We can hold the meeting again,” he said, stressing that the agenda must address urgent issues, foremost among them maritime navigation through the Hormuz Strait. Al‑Busaidi acknowledged that achieving this goal would be difficult amid historical and contemporary mistrust. Nevertheless, he emphasized a growing consensus that any future Gulf security strategy must involve all eight states and not rely solely on external partners. “The first step must be taken now,” he added, concluding that the 1976 initiative’s objectives remain attainable today.