Manama: The Joint Ministerial Meeting between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states and the United States was held with the participation of the foreign ministers of GCC member states and the United States. The meeting was co-chaired by Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs, on behalf of the GCC, and Marco Rubio, United States Secretary of State, on behalf of the US.
According to Bahrain News Agency, Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, attended the meeting. Dr. Al Zayani conveyed the greetings and best wishes of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, for the success of the meeting. He noted that the region has undergone a critical period, with recent attacks on GCC states testing and revealing the true strength and resilience of societies and institutions.
Dr. Al Zayani stressed that these events have strengthened the GCC's determination to work with international partners to prevent similar incidents and to build a lasting foundation for peace, security, and stability. He welcomed recent diplomatic efforts that led to a cessation of hostilities through the US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding, supported by mediation efforts by the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the State of Qatar, as well as the restoration of safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
He emphasised the importance of Iran fully honoring all commitments, including those under the memorandum. He added that sustainable regional security requires not only preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons and safeguarding freedom of navigation, but also ending missile and drone attacks, halting support for militias, respecting the sovereignty of neighboring states, and addressing the consequences of previous attacks in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2817.
Dr. Al Zayani reaffirmed Bahrain's strong strategic partnership with the US, supported by the Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement (C-SIPA), and expressed the Kingdom's aspiration to further expand cooperation in security, economic development, and technology. He reiterated the GCC's core principle that the security of its member states is indivisible, noting that any threat to one member constitutes a threat to the Council as a whole.
Turning to regional priorities, Dr. Al Zayani underscored support for the unity, sovereignty, and stability of Syria, the preservation of Lebanon's stability, and efforts to advance peace in Gaza. He reaffirmed the GCC's strategic commitment to peace and good neighborly ties, expressing hope for a new chapter in the region based on respect for sovereignty and adherence to international law.
For his part, Secretary Rubio highlighted the longstanding partnership between the GCC and the US. He said decades of cooperation have been guided by the shared objective of advancing regional and global security, stability, and prosperity. He described recent events as a significant test of the alliance, adding that the close coordination underscored the strength of the partnership.
Secretary Rubio stressed that the US seeks a Middle East focused on economic development and improving the lives of its people rather than conflict. Acknowledging challenges, he said the US, together with GCC partners, intends to pursue constructive dialogue with Iran. He emphasised that any agreement must be credible, verifiable, and enduring.
Regarding the Strait of Hormuz, he stressed that international waterways must remain open and cannot be controlled by any single nation. He also reiterated that any agreement with Iran must ensure that it does not acquire a nuclear weapon, safeguarding the interests and security of its Gulf partners and allies.
At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides reviewed regional developments and ongoing US-Iran negotiations aimed at securing a comprehensive peace agreement, ending military operations, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and enhancing regional security. The ministers emphasised the importance of maintaining momentum and unity throughout the negotiations to achieve a durable end to hostilities and ensure that Iran does not develop a nuclear weapon.
The meeting was attended by Shaikh Abdullah bin Ali Al Khalifa, Director General of Bilateral Relations; Dr. Yousif Abdulkareem Bucheeri, Director General of Legal Affairs and Human Rights; Ambassador Saeed Abdulkhaleq Saeed, Chief of the Coordination and Follow-up Sector; Ambassador Nawar Abdullah Al Mutawa, Acting Chief of GCC Affairs; and Minister Plenipotentiary Salman Hassan Al Jalahma, Chief of the Americas Affairs Sector.