Former Saudi intelligence chief urges stronger GCC unity Prince Turki al-Faisal, Saudi Arabia's former intelligence chief and ambassador, has called on Gulf states to establish a joint defence network capable of responding collectively to threats against member countries. Writing in Asharq Al-Awsat on Saturday, he said the Gulf Cooperation Council had faced repeated challenges and should "stand together like a solid, fortified structure" to strengthen regional security. Turki also called on Iran to abandon what he characterised as ambitions for regional dominance and to end support for groups including Hezbollah and the Houthis.