GCC announces rescheduling of Gulf-European summit in Riyadh

A scheduled meeting between EU and Gulf leaders in Riyadh has been postponed due to ongoing Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) secretary-general announced on Thursday. Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi cited the need to ensure the safety of participating delegations amid continued threats to civilians and the extended suspension of operations at King Khalid International Airport.

The EU Council expressed its commitment to deepening the strategic partnership between the EU and GCC, emphasizing their intention to sustain the momentum built since the first summit in October 2024. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who attended the first EU-GCC summit in late 2024, was originally scheduled to co-host the gathering in Riyadh alongside EU Council President Antonio Costa and the EU's 27 leaders.

The decision to postpone the summit comes amidst continuous Houthi missile strikes targeting Saudi Arabia's airports, energy, and maritime infrastructure. Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev, while expressing appreciation for the ongoing dialogue, suggested the postponement might be due to security reasons. Radev also highlighted a proposed railway corridor to export Saudi oil through Syria, Turkey, and Bulgaria, bypassing the Strait of Hormuz currently under an Iranian blockade.

Gulf states were hoping the summit would lead to the harmonization of Schengen visa waivers, with each state having different rules. EU countries have strengthened their relationship with the Gulf since the start of the Iran war, providing air defense systems to the UAE and recently to Saudi Arabia.