EU, Gulf nations postpone Riyadh summit after Houthi attacks
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM: A summit between the European Union and Gulf countries in Riyadh has been postponed, Brussels said on Thursday, as Saudi Arabia faces sustained attacks from Yemen’s Houthis . Saudi Arabia has in recent days come under sustained attack from the Houthis, including a strike on Riyadh’s international airport that was the kingdom’s deadliest in years, as its war with the group…
On Thursday, the European Union and Gulf countries postponed a planned summit in Riyadh, following a series of attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, according to Brussels. Saudi Arabia has endured persistent assaults from the Houthis, with a recent strike on Riyadh’s international airport marking the kingdom’s most severe in years as its conflict with the group intensifies.
The European Council, representing the 27-member EU, announced that the summit scheduled for October 24, 2026, has been delayed, with a future date to be communicated later. The EU has endeavored to enhance trade and security collaborations with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), comprising Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia.
However, the deteriorating security circumstances in Saudi Arabia appear to have compelled the postponement of the meeting, which was intended to stimulate economic and security ties between the EU and GCC, particularly amid the war’s adverse effects on Gulf economies and potential threats to European energy supplies. The EU expressed its continued commitment to deepening the partnership with the GCC, emphasizing the significance of the relationship for both regions since the inaugural summit in October 2024.
A Saudi-led coalition has been backing Yemen’s government militarily against the Houthis since 2015, a conflict that has sparked a humanitarian crisis.
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