Gaza war on agenda as EU and Gulf countries convene
The Gaza war and increasing Iran-Israel tension were expected to dominate the agenda in Luxembourg at the first high-level EU-GCC security forum yesterday.
EU officials have highlighted the importance of diplomatic dialogue with Arab officials as they fear the situation in the Middle East may spin out of control.
“It’s an important milestone in our strategic partnership with the Gulf countries,” said the EU’s foreign affairs and security policy chief Josep Borrell before the meeting.
“It’s the first ever informal meeting in this set-up.”
The “tense situation in Gaza” will be discussed, Mr Borrell said, to “work collectively to calm down the situation and prevent further escalations”.
Mr Borrell will chair the meeting, which will open with introductory remarks from Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, Gulf Co-operation Council Secretary General Jasem Al Budaiwi and Belgian Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib.
The UAE will be represented by Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Co-operation.
An EU official said there was “no precise agenda” and “the idea is to talk openly”.
“It’s a very interesting setting and cannot come at a more appropriate moment,” they added.
Mr Al Budaiwi said the forum represents an opportunity to “reach common viewpoints on many issues”, international Arabic newspaper Alsharq Al Awsat reported on Sunday.
Achieving a ceasefire in Gaza and finding a credible and effective postwar plan for the enclave are likely to be discussed during the meeting, said Emily Tasinato, a researcher and analyst focused on politics and security in the Gulf region.
“The EU-GCC high-level forum in Luxembourg could provide an important platform to address these issues,” she told The National.
Another important matter is the EU’s hardening line on Iran. The bloc’s foreign ministers will be walking into the meeting with the Gulf foreign ministers after holding separate discussions during which they agreed on the need to expand sanctions against Tehran.
There have also been divergences of views between Arab and European countries over the Gaza war despite an alignment in favour of a two-state solution, which has been rejected by Israel.
Arab leaders accused the EU of double standards over its support for Ukraine not being matched by its backing of Palestinians in Gaza.
Israel’s war in Gaza, sparked by Hamas’s October 7 attack that killed about 1,200 people, has killed more than 34,100 Palestinians, the Health Ministry said.