Saudi foreign minister attends Manama meeting that explores further bolstering strategic Gulf-US ties

MANAMA — Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan attended the joint ministerial meeting between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the United States in Manama on Thursday.The meeting was attended by the heads of delegation of the GCC member states, GCC Secretary General Jasem Albudaiwi, and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.The meeting reviewed the strategic relations between the GCC countries and the United States. It explored ways to further develop them in a manner that serves mutual interests and strengthens partnership and cooperation frameworks across various fields.The ministers discussed regional developments and the challenges facing the region, as well as ways to enhance joint coordination between the two sides to promote peace and stability in the Arabian Gulf and the Middle East.The meeting addressed the ongoing negotiations between the United States and Iran, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that any resulting arrangements or pathways take into account the interests and security of the GCC states and contribute to establishing regional security and stability based on respect for sovereignty, good-neighborliness, and non-interference in the internal affairs of states.The participants further discussed the importance of safeguarding maritime security and ensuring the free flow of trade through the region’s waterways, particularly the Strait of Hormuz, as a vital artery for the regional and global economy. The meeting reaffirmed the commitment of the GCC countries and the United States to continue consultations and coordination on issues of mutual interest and to support efforts to reach comprehensive political solutions that lead to sustainable security and shared prosperity for all countries and peoples of the region.