Makkah is set to host a high-level ministerial meeting at the end of the first week of Ramadan, bringing together the foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, Egypt, Syria, Morocco, and Jordan, to address key regional developments, particularly the situation in Gaza and Syria.
Scheduled for March 6, the meeting will coincide with the 163rd session of the GCC Ministerial Council. It follows the emergency Arab summit in Egypt on March 4, which will focus on the humanitarian and political crisis in Gaza, in the wake of a plan proposed by former US President Donald Trump regarding the future of the Palestinian territory.
The discussions will primarily focus on the ongoing crisis in Gaza, as well as Syria’s political landscape. Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states have strongly condemned Israeli airstrikes on Syria, viewing them as repeated violations of international law that threaten regional stability. They have also reaffirmed their solidarity with Syria, emphasizing the need for the international community to prevent further escalation.
On December 26, the GCC foreign ministers convened in Kuwait to discuss Syria’s situation. They underlined the importance of respecting Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, rejecting foreign intervention, and combating terrorism and extremism. The council also reiterated support for a political transition that ensures stability and development for the Syrian people.
Saudi Arabia hosted on February 2 Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa, who met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss security, stability, and Syria’s reintegration into the Arab diplomatic sphere.
Gulf nations have also increased engagement with Damascus, with Saudi and Qatari delegations visiting Syria, and UAE’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan holding discussions with his Syrian counterpart, Asaad Hassan Al-Shibani.
