H.E. Jasem Mohamed AlBudaiwi

H.E. Jasem Mohamed AlBudaiwi is the seventh secretary-general of the Gulf Cooperation Council and officially assumed the role on February 1, 2023, succeeding Nayef Falah Al-Hajraf. Before his appointment, he was Kuwait’s ambassador to the United States.  

AlBudaiwi started his diplomatic career in 1992 and held several prominent positions, including Kuwait’s nonresident ambassador to Luxembourg from 2017-22, head of mission to the European Union from 2017-22, head of mission to NATO from 2016-22, ambassador to Belgium from 2016-22, and ambassador to South Korea from 2013-16.  

AlBudaiwi was named the best ambassador in 2014 by South Korea and received the 2014 Distinguished Patron Award from Asia Society Korea.