GCC announces rescheduling of Gulf-European summit in Riyadh

Jasem Mohammed Albudaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), announced that the Gulf-European summit in Riyadh has been rescheduled.

In a statement issued today, Albudaiwi said the decision was made due to the continued attempts by the Houthi militia to target Saudi Arabia and its civilian sites, posing a threat to the safety and security of civilians. He also cited the extension of suspended operations at King Khalid International Airport and the priority of ensuring the safety of participating delegations. The GCC Secretariat General has therefore decided to reschedule the Gulf-European summit, which was originally set for October 24, 2023, in Riyadh, to a new date that will be agreed upon later by both the Gulf and European sides.

He affirmed the commitment of the GCC and the European Union to create suitable conditions for holding the summit, in line with their long-term goals of strengthening and advancing cooperation between the two organizations for the benefit of their countries and peoples.

Earlier, the European Union had also announced the postponement of the second summit between the bloc and the GCC, which was scheduled for October 24 of this year.

The EU stated it would announce a new date for the summit at an appropriate time, but no alternative has been set so far.

The summit was expected to bring together representatives from the European Union and GCC states as part of ongoing joint meetings aimed at discussing issues of mutual interest and enhancing cooperation across various fields.