European and Gulf foreign ministers reached broad agreement on strengthening maritime security and advancing peace efforts in Gaza during a high-level meeting in Kuwait on Monday.
The discussions, part of the annual European Union–Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) ministerial dialogue, highlighted growing alignment between the two blocs on regional stability, countering Iranian influence, and supporting US-led efforts to end the Gaza conflict.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul called for “closer cooperation with Gulf states to protect maritime navigation and confront destabilizing policies,” noting shared concerns over threats from Yemen’s Houthi militias and Iran.
Wadephul emphasized that discussions with GCC representatives revealed a shared understanding of the root causes of instability, pointing directly to Iran’s support for proxy militias. He noted that developing coordinated policies between Europe and the Gulf is now “crucial to regional and global security.”
For his part, Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Abdullah Alyahya said: “Regional and international developments have proven that common challenges - from terrorism and foreign interference to maritime insecurity and humanitarian crises - require joint, coordinated action that enhances stability and supports peace and development.” He urged the launch of “collective initiatives reflecting solidarity and shared responsibility.”
In addition to attending the EU–GCC meetings in Kuwait, Wadephul is touring the region to promote US President Donald Trump’s Gaza Peace Plan, which seeks a ceasefire, hostage releases, and a long-term settlement. Following visits to Israel, he is expected to travel to Cairo for talks with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelaty on the plan’s initial implementation phase.
In this context, the German minister stressed that he had heard only supportive voices across the Gulf and was eager to help turn that consensus into tangible progress.
During the Kuwait meeting, Kaja Kallas, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said the world is witnessing “a surge in conflicts and humanitarian crises,” calling for respect for sovereignty and stronger global cooperation to protect peace and stability.
Kallas praised Trump’s mediation efforts aimed at achieving a truce in Gaza and relaunching a two-state solution, welcoming Hamas’ acceptance of the latest peace proposal.
She further voiced deep concern over Gaza’s humanitarian catastrophe two years after the October 2023 attacks, stressing that alleviating the suffering in the enclave is “an absolute priority for the European Union.” The EU, she noted, was the first major donor of humanitarian aid to Gaza and has pledged 1 billion euros (US$1.08 billion) in support for the Palestinian Authority’s reform and reconstruction efforts from 2025 to 2027. She also urged Israel to release withheld Palestinian tax revenues.
Kallas reiterated the EU’s firm stance on other global crises, condemning Russia’s war in Ukraine as “a blatant violation of the UN Charter,” while reaffirming ongoing European military, economic, and diplomatic support for Kyiv. She also called for unhindered humanitarian access in Sudan, renewed peace talks, and sustained international backing for Syria’s fragile transition toward inclusive governance.
Meanwhile, Alyahya, who currently chairs the GCC ministerial council, said the Kuwait meeting “reflects a shared determination to build upon solid achievements” in Gulf–European cooperation, which is grounded in mutual friendship and strategic interests.
He noted that the dialogue continues the framework set by the first Gulf–EU summit in Brussels in October 2024, which established a structured platform for deepening coordination on regional and global challenges. Alyahya reaffirmed both sides’ commitment to enhance cooperation in energy security, the green economy, digital transformation, and education.
On the Palestinian issue, he reiterated that it remains “a matter of justice and rights,” condemning the humanitarian devastation in Gaza and calling for urgent international action to stop violations. He welcomed the joint Saudi–French initiative to convene an international conference for implementing the two-state solution and praised several European countries for recognizing the State of Palestine.
Alyahya also called on Iran to “take concrete steps to build trust, respect state sovereignty, and cooperate fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency,” emphasizing the importance of peaceful coexistence and regional de-escalation.
GCC Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi described the meeting as evidence of the “strength and continuity of the strategic partnership” between the Gulf and Europe, established under the 1988 Cooperation Agreement. He said the GCC is working toward a mutual exemption from Schengen visas, which would facilitate travel and deepen ties between the regions.
He explained that joint efforts now encompass trade, energy transition, digital economy, and climate resilience, adding that the GCC Secretariat has proposed holding the first Gulf–EU Energy Forum and a Digital Economy and Trade Forum in coordination with Cyprus, the next EU presidency.
“These initiatives,” Albudaiwi said, “will strengthen economic, cultural, and human connections between the Gulf and Europe, and help build enduring bridges of understanding and shared prosperity.”
