Foreign Minister Dr Abdullatif Al Zayani highlighted GCC-EU co-operation on political, economic, security, cultural, and development domains, and opportunities to enhance longstanding strategic partnership for mutual benefit.
Speaking at the 29th Joint Ministerial Meeting between the Gulf Co-operation Council and the European Union in Kuwait, Dr Al Zayani, along with other leaders, reviewed outcomes from last year’s GCC-EU summit in Brussels and the second high-level forum on security and regional co-operation between the GCC and the EU held in Kuwait in October 5, 2025.
The meeting was co-chaired by Kuwaiti Foreign Minister and Ministerial Council session chairman Abdulla Ali Al Yahya, and High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and European Commission vice-president Kaja Kallas. The meeting was attended by GCC secretary general Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi.
The meeting reviewed joint co-operation in economics, investment, trade, energy, climate change, communications, humanitarian aid, security, and ties between peoples.
The ministers reviewed progress on the GCC-EU Joint Action Programme (2022–2027), covering political dialogue, trade, energy, climate change, education, research and innovation, health, development, humanitarian co-operation, and cultural exchanges.
They also discussed current regional developments, their impact on regional and European security and stability, including the Gaza conflict, international efforts for a two-state solution, the Ukraine war, regional disputes, Iran’s nuclear programme, Red Sea navigation security, and international developments.
The meeting concluded with a joint statement welcoming progress in the strategic partnership established under the 1988 co-operation agreement. The statement underlined the partnership’s importance amid serious threats to peace, security, and global challenges, and commended the results of the first GCC-EU summit in Brussels in October 2024, anticipating the next summit in Saudi Arabia in 2026.
The statement also covered shared positions on regional and international issues, efforts to restore peace and stability, and resolve conflicts peacefully.
The Bahrain delegation included Bahraini Ambassador to Kuwait Salah Ali Al Malki; Foreign Ministry’s Bilateral Relations director general Ambassador Shaikh Abdulla bin Ali Al Khalifa; GCC Affairs Sector’s Acting Chief Nawar Abdulla Al Mutawa, and the accompanying ministerial delegation.
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