Bahraini Ministry of Foreign Affairs has led a delegation at the inaugural meeting of the Regional Security Dialogue between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the European Union (EU).
Held at the headquarters of the GCC General Secretariat in Riyadh, the meeting came as part of the outcomes of the 27th Gulf-European Joint Ministerial Meeting held in Muscat last October.
The meeting addressed various aspects of strategic cooperation between the Gulf and Europe in regional security, including efforts to counter terrorism and its financing, extremism, human trafficking, drug smuggling. It also discussed cooperation in maritime and cyber security, global energy and food supplies security, nuclear non-proliferation, disaster preparedness, and emergency management.
It also included discussions on the situation in the Gaza Strip, and regional developments in the Middle East, Africa, and Ukraine.
Ambassador Ahmed Ibrahim Al Qurainees, Chief of the European Affairs Sector at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, emphasized Bahrain’s commitment to enhancing Gulf integration in political, security, and defense affairs. The ambassador highlighted the importance of strengthening the strategic partnership with the European Union and the international community for resolving regional and international conflicts through peaceful means, prioritizing ending the war in Gaza, protecting civilians, meeting their humanitarian needs, and establishing a just and comprehensive peace, which could be achieved by establishing an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, in line with the two-state solution and international legitimacy resolutions.
Additionally, international cooperation was underscored to ensure the secure flow of navigation and international trade, preserving international security and peace.
The meeting was co-chaired by Dr. Khalid bin Fahad Al Khater, Director of the Policy and Planning Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Abdulaziz Aluwaisheg, Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs and Negotiations at the General Secretariat of the GCC, and Charles Fries, Deputy Secretary General for Peace, Security and Defense.
