عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Gulf

Gulf-UK Understanding on Foreign Policy, Regional Security Issues

Foreign ministers from the Gulf states and the GCC secretary-general met with British foreign secretary Liz Truss in Chevening, England. (SPA)
Foreign ministers from the Gulf states and the GCC secretary-general met with British foreign secretary Liz Truss in Chevening, England. (SPA)
TT
TT

Gulf-UK Understanding on Foreign Policy, Regional Security Issues

Foreign ministers from the Gulf states and the GCC secretary-general met with British foreign secretary Liz Truss in Chevening, England. (SPA)
Foreign ministers from the Gulf states and the GCC secretary-general met with British foreign secretary Liz Truss in Chevening, England. (SPA)

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and the UK have reiterated their commitment to enhancing close cooperation in foreign policy and regional security. This came after foreign ministers from the Gulf states and the GCC secretary-general met with British foreign secretary Liz Truss in Chevening, England, on Monday.

In the final communique of the meeting, the foreign ministers discussed the resumption of Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA) talks in Vienna.

They underlined that this is the last opportunity to restore the JCPoA as Iran’s continued nuclear escalation is permanently eroding the benefits of the deal and undermining regional and international security.

The top diplomats urged Iran to seize the current diplomatic opportunity to restore the JCPoA and to avoid bringing the region and international community to a crisis point.

The ministers also expressed grave concern about the escalation in Iran’s destabilizing activities in the region.

As for bilateral relations with the UK, the ministers agreed the UK-GCC relationship will be strengthened across all fields.

The UK and the GCC already cooperate closely in a wide range of areas, including political dialogue, security, foreign policy, trade and investment, and development, and the foreign ministers committed to expanding shared ambition and developing the partnership in emerging areas such as clean technology, digital infrastructure and cyber.

This reenergized UK-GCC partnership will help keep UK and GCC citizens safe and generate business opportunities and jobs.

The UK and GCC member states emphasized the importance of enhancing people-to-people links, which are an essential element in promoting understanding between peoples, and a key driver of innovation, business opportunities, and cultural and educational exchange.

The foreign ministers highlighted their belief that this ambitious strategic partnership between the UK and GCC member states is essential in promoting peace, security, stability, and economic growth in the Middle East region and beyond.

Most Viewed

 
 
Gulf

Egypt and Oman Discuss Red Sea Security, Bilateral Cooperation

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty meets with Oman’s Deputy Prime Minister Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said. (Egypt’s Foreign Affairs Ministry)
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty meets with Oman’s Deputy Prime Minister Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said. (Egypt’s Foreign Affairs Ministry)
TT
TT

Egypt and Oman Discuss Red Sea Security, Bilateral Cooperation

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty meets with Oman’s Deputy Prime Minister Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said. (Egypt’s Foreign Affairs Ministry)
Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty meets with Oman’s Deputy Prime Minister Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said. (Egypt’s Foreign Affairs Ministry)

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty discussed escalating security tensions in the Red Sea during a visit to Oman on Monday, stressing the importance of maritime safety, freedom of international trade, and the direct link to the security of Red Sea littoral states.

Abdelatty highlighted the economic impact of the tensions on Egypt, particularly the decline in Suez Canal revenues, which fell from $9.4 billion in 2022–2023 to $7.2 billion in 2023–2024 due to the Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait.

The attacks, carried out in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, have forced global shipping companies to reroute vessels through the Cape of Good Hope.

During his meeting with Oman’s Deputy Prime Minister Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said, Abdelatty expressed Egypt’s appreciation for the sultanate’s leadership and its stabilizing regional role.

According to a statement by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, he emphasized the need for Arab cooperation to address the region’s unprecedented instability, underscoring Egypt’s commitment to working closely with Oman to promote security and stability.

Abdelatty also met with his Omani counterpart Badr Al-Busaidi to discuss bilateral ties and regional issues. They reviewed existing cooperation frameworks and explored ways to boost relations, especially in trade, investments, and logistics.

The Egyptian official highlighted his country’s economic reform program and its efforts to attract foreign investment by improving the business climate and offering incentives.

The ministers discussed bolstering cooperation between the Suez Canal Economic Zone and Oman’s Special Economic Zone at Duqm, as well as strengthening maritime links between key ports, such as Duqm, Salalah, Alexandria, and Ain Sokhna. Such initiatives aim to boost trade and deepen collaboration in logistics and maritime transport, leveraging both nations’ strategic geographic locations.

Regional topics, including developments in Syria, Gaza, Yemen, Libya, Lebanon, and the Horn of Africa, were also addressed. The ministers expressed concern over the impact of Red Sea tensions on littoral states and shared a commitment to finding comprehensive political solutions for these crises.