Senior officials from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and European Union gathered in Riyadh for the first GCC-EU Regional Security Dialogue on 24 January.

The main sessions focused on regional security and developments, as well as specific areas for increased cooperation between the GCC and the EU.

The security dialogue allowed for comprehensive, open and constructive discussions on regional security. Both sides exchanged views on the situation in the Middle East, Yemen, the Red Sea, Iraq, Iran, the Sahel, Somalia, and Ukraine.                                                     

Participants discussed opportunities for increased cooperation on counter-terrorism, maritime security, cyber issues, non-proliferation, as well as disaster preparedness and emergency management.       

The meeting was a key deliverable of the 27th GCC-EU Joint Council and Ministerial meeting, when Ministers agreed to step up their cooperation.                                                                          

The meeting was co-chaired by Presidency of the GCC representative Ambassador Dr. Khalid Fahad al Khater, Policy Planning Director at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar, Dr. Abdelaziz Aluwaisheg, GCC Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs and Negotiations, and Charles Fries, Deputy Secretary-General for Peace, Security and Defence, of the European External Action Service.                    

The GCC-EU Regional Security Dialogue will continue to take place on a regular basis, alternately in Riyadh and Brussels.