Riyadh Prepares to Host Strategic GCC Dialogues with Russia, India

Gulf foreign ministers and GCC Secretary-General Dr. Jassim Mohammed Al Budawi meet in Doha in June. (GCC)
Gulf foreign ministers and GCC Secretary-General Dr. Jassim Mohammed Al Budawi meet in Doha in June. (GCC)
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Riyadh Prepares to Host Strategic GCC Dialogues with Russia, India

Gulf foreign ministers and GCC Secretary-General Dr. Jassim Mohammed Al Budawi meet in Doha in June. (GCC)
Gulf foreign ministers and GCC Secretary-General Dr. Jassim Mohammed Al Budawi meet in Doha in June. (GCC)

The foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries will meet in Riyadh on Monday for their 161st Ministerial Council. They will also hold joint separate meetings with their counterparts from Russia, India and Brazil.

GCC Secretary-General Dr. Jassim Mohammed Al Budawi said in August that the Ministerial Council will tackle several issues related to joint Gulf work, and regional and international developments.

The members of the council will hold a number of joint ministerial meetings with several countries to discuss cooperation and coordination and exchange views on regional and international developments.

The ministers will meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at the seventh GCC-Russia strategic dialogue. The two parties had previously underscored the importance of the dialogue between them to achieve common interests and deepen relations.

They had approved the Gulf-Russian 2023-2028 joint plan that is aimed at strengthening ties and exchanging expertise in several areas.

The parties last met in Moscow in July. They agreed to intensify efforts to achieve peace, security, stability and prosperity around the world.

They agreed to respect the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of nations and to refrain from meddling in their internal affairs. They stressed the need to confront challenges and crises through peaceful means, prioritize dialogue and resolve conflicts through negotiations.

The meeting welcomed GCC efforts to pave the way for a political solution to the crisis in Ukraine.

The GCC ministers will also meet with their Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, the first ever between the two sides.

They will also hold joint talks with Brazil’s Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira, who was invited to Riyadh by Al Budawi during a visit to Brazil in June.

Officials are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding and joint work plan aimed at bolstering and developing relations between them.



Saudi Arabia Hosts Gulf-American Summit on Wednesday

US President Donald Trump is seen at the Gulf-American summit in Riyadh in July 2017. (Reuters)
US President Donald Trump is seen at the Gulf-American summit in Riyadh in July 2017. (Reuters)
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Saudi Arabia Hosts Gulf-American Summit on Wednesday

US President Donald Trump is seen at the Gulf-American summit in Riyadh in July 2017. (Reuters)
US President Donald Trump is seen at the Gulf-American summit in Riyadh in July 2017. (Reuters)

Riyadh will host on Wednesday a Gulf-American summit as US President Donald Trump kicks off a historic visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday.

The summit will bring together the US president with his counterparts from the Arab Gulf, an American and two Arab officials told Axios.

“Trump's first official foreign trip reflects the growing importance his administration is placing on economic cooperation and investments between the US and Gulf countries,” said Axios.

“The summit will be a chance for Trump to present his vision for US involvement in the Middle East and lay out his policy objectives in the region,” it added.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz sent on Sunday invitations to the leaders of Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman to attend the summit.

This will mark the fifth summit between the US and Gulf countries. The first was held in Camp David in May 2015, the second in April 2016, and the third in May 2017 in Riyadh, with Trump attending during his first term as president. The fourth summit was held in July 2022 and included the participation of Egypt, Jordan and Iraq.

The US State Department had told Asharq Al-Awsat that Trump’s visit reflects “without a doubt” Saudi Arabia’s importance and strategic role in the region.

The US sees the Kingdom as a pivotal partner in efforts aimed at achieving regional security and stability, said Samuel Warburg, regional spokesman for the US Department of State.

Washington is once again reaffirming its commitment to working with regional partners to find sustainable political and diplomatic solutions to crises and supporting efforts to restore calm in Gaza, he added.