GCC, EU to hold emergency talks on escalating Middle East crisis

Jasem Mohamed Al-Budaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, announced that the GCC and the European Union will hold an emergency ministerial meeting on Thursday, March 5, to address the rapidly evolving situation in the Middle East.

According to the Bahrain News Agency (BNA), the meeting will bring together the foreign ministers of the GCC member states and EU countries. The discussions will focus on the latest regional developments and their broader implications.

Kaja Kallas, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, is expected to participate in the meeting via video link.

Al-Budaiwi said the talks will address recent developments in the region, including accusations against Iran over attacks on civilian facilities, infrastructure and diplomatic missions in GCC countries.

He added that the Gulf Cooperation Council intends to use the meeting with its international partners to explore ways to reduce tensions and prevent further escalation. The organisation also plans to urge the international community to take steps aimed at ending the conflict and strengthening security across the region.

The Gulf Cooperation Council, headquartered in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, is a political and economic union consisting of six Arab states: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Historically, the EU has maintained a strategic partnership with the GCC, focusing on energy security, trade, and maritime stability in the Persian Gulf. 

By Tamilla Hasanova