Antalya: Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), met with Thomas Byrne, Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence of Ireland, on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Antalya, Republic of Trkiye. The meeting focused on strengthening cooperation between the GCC and Ireland and addressing pressing regional and international issues.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the Irish minister praised the GCC states for their efforts in evacuating Irish citizens during a recent regional crisis. The discussions also covered coordination plans for Ireland's upcoming Presidency of the European Union (EU) in May, emphasizing the significance of advancing negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the GCC and the EU to bolster Gulf-European relations.
Both parties exchanged views on regional and international developments, condemning Iranian attacks on GCC states. They described these actions as threats to regional security, international navigation, and global energy supplies.