EU Political and Security Committee Delegation Visits GCC Headquarters in Riyadh
Members of the EU’s Political and Security Committee, led by Ambassador Delphine Pronk, made a grand entrance at the Gulf Cooperation Council headquarters in Riyadh on Monday, accompanied by a star-studded lineup including EU ambassadors and top officials.
High-level Talks and Mutual Interest
The delegation, graced with the presence of European External Action Service Managing Director Helene Le Gal and EU Special Representative Luigi Di Maio, engaged in a riveting political dialogue session with GCC Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi.
Topics of discussion ranged from hot-button issues like Israel, Gaza, and Lebanon to the pressing matters of Gulf security, Iran, maritime security in the Red Sea region, and conflicts in Iraq, Sudan, and the Horn of Africa. The delegates also didn’t shy away from addressing the elephant in the room – Russian aggression against Ukraine.
Strengthening Regional Security Cooperation
Amidst the intense discussions, both the committee delegates and the GCC found common ground in the need to bolster EU-GCC regional security cooperation. This monumental step forward comes on the heels of the successful first EU-GCC Summit in Brussels on Oct. 16, marking a significant milestone in their partnership.