Gulf leaders together with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman collect with EU heads of state and authorities in Brussels Wednesday for a summit geared toward averting a “common conflagration” within the Center East.
The 27-nation European Union is searching for to work extra intently with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) — which brings collectively Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates — in addressing conflicts in each the Center East and Ukraine.
Confirmed on the final minute, the presence of Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler among the many six Gulf leaders in attendance heightened expectations forward of the first-ever EU-GCC summit.
Going down on the eve of an EU leaders’ summit, the gathering kicks off in earnest from 2:00 pm (1200 GMT) with the arrival of Gulf heads and state and authorities, following a Tuesday night time dinner for international ministers.
Commerce, vitality and local weather change will all be on the desk on the Brussels talks — however EU officers careworn the “predominant matter” can be Israel’s conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon.
“One of many goals is to keep away from a common conflagration” within the Center East, a senior EU official stated. “Either side are apprehensive about this.”
“These nations play a key function within the Center East, and will play a key function on the battle in Ukraine,” the official stated — although variations stay over Russia’s invasion of its neighbour, and particularly the EU’s push to punish Iran for bolstering Moscow’s battle effort.
– ‘Similar considerations’ –
The EU is the second-largest buying and selling associate for GCC nations however talks on a commerce pact have languished for years.
“We see far more eye-to-eye on the Center East,” one other official stated.
The Brussels summit comes simply over a 12 months into the battle between Israel and Iran-allied Palestinian militant group Hamas that has in current weeks expanded to incorporate Lebanon — elevating fears of a significant regional battle.
“We share the identical considerations about peace and safety in the entire area,” EU diplomacy chief Josep Borrell stated of EU and GCC nations forward of the talks.
“We’re able to act increasingly collectively in going through widespread challenges.”
The EU has known as for a ceasefire in Lebanon and Gaza.
Historically Western allies, the resource-rich Gulf monarchies have grown nearer to Iran, which backs Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
They’ve repeatedly known as for the creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel, with some taking part in a key function in efforts to safe a ceasefire in Gaza.
Hezbollah had been exchanging cross-border fireplace with Israel for nearly a 12 months, saying it’s performing in response to Israel’s devastating floor and air assault on Gaza.
The battle in Gaza started after the armed wing of Palestinian group Hamas launched a shock assault from the territory into Israel on October 7, 2023.
The near-daily change of fireplace throughout the Israel-Lebanon border led to the displacement of tens of hundreds of individuals on each side even earlier than final month’s escalation — with not less than 690,000 individuals now displaced.
European Fee president Ursula von der Leyen will participate within the EU-GCC assembly, chaired collectively by European Council president Charles Michel and the Emir of Qatar, Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, who at present holds the rotating GCC presidency.
Human Rights Watch in the meantime known as for EU leaders to press their Gulf counterparts for reforms — together with on the jailing of political prisoners, freedom of expression, labour and ladies’s rights.
“EU leaders ought to make it clear that the discharge of critics and progress on human rights are important for bilateral relations,” stated Claudio Francavilla, affiliate EU director at Human Rights Watch.
The printed agenda for the talks makes no point out of human rights.