Joint Ministerial Meeting of the GCC-U.S. Strategic Partnership
On April 29, 2024, a joint ministerial meeting focusing on the strategic partnership between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the United States was convened at the General Secretariat headquarters in Riyadh. The meeting was chaired by Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, who presided over the current session of the Council of Ministers. It was attended by the foreign ministers of GCC member states and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Objectives and Discussions
The foreign ministers reaffirmed their commitment to advancing the progress made in previous meetings, notably the most recent session held on September 18, 2023. The discussions aimed to enhance consultation, coordination, and cooperation across various sectors. Jassim Mohammed Al-Budaiwi, the Secretary-General of the GCC, emphasized the strategic partnership's importance in promoting peace, security, stability, integration, and economic prosperity within the region.
The meeting covered various international and regional issues, with a particular focus on the situation in the Gaza Strip. The GCC ministers stressed the urgent need for an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire, alongside a call for the preservation of all military operations in accordance with international law. They condemned restrictions that hinder the entry of humanitarian aid and basic necessities into Gaza and firmly rejected any actions that could lead to the displacement of the Palestinian people, including land seizures, military operations, and settler violence.
Support for Palestinian Rights
The ministers reiterated the GCC's steadfast support for the Palestinian people's right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent state based on the borders of June 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital. This position aligns with relevant United Nations resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative, which advocate for the two-state solution and the recognition of the State of Palestine. The Council called upon the international community to take decisive actions towards these goals and highlighted the United Nations Security Council's responsibility to maintain international peace and security, particularly in this sensitive region.
The outcomes of the meeting reflect the GCC's ongoing commitment to addressing regional challenges and promoting stability while advocating for the rights of the Palestinian people in the context of international law.