Cairo: Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty participated in the fourth joint ministerial meeting between Egypt and the foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. The meeting was held virtually with the participation of the GCC foreign ministers and under the chairmanship of Dr. Abdul Latif bin Rashid Al-Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain, in his capacity as chair of the current session of the GCC Ministerial Council. Mr. Jassim Mohammed Al-Budaiwi, Secretary-General of the GCC, was also in attendance.

According to State Information Service Egypt, the official spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Tamim Khallaf, said that Minister Abdelatty affirmed during the meeting Egypt's unwavering support for the brotherly Gulf states and its solidarity with them in the face of the unacceptable and unjustified attacks they have suffered from Iran in recent days. He emphasized the categorical rejection of any pretexts aimed at infringing upon the sovereignty or resources of the Gulf states, Jordan, and Iraq.

The Foreign Minister offered his sincere condolences for the lives lost in these heinous attacks and expressed his wishes for a speedy recovery for all those injured. Foreign Minister Abdelatty reiterated Egypt's condemnation of these attacks, emphasizing that Arab national security is indivisible and that the security of the Gulf states is an integral part of Egyptian and Arab national security. Abdelatty affirmed that Egypt stands with its brothers during this delicate regional situation.

The official spokesperson added that the Foreign Minister Abdelatty stressed during the meeting the paramount importance of de-escalation, achieving calm, and prioritizing diplomacy and dialogue. He warned of the dangers of the conflict widening and the potential for sliding into widespread chaos. Abdelatty also emphasized the importance of ensuring freedom of international maritime navigation, expressing complete rejection of any attempts to obstruct it, as this poses a direct threat to the security and stability of the region and global trade.

The Foreign Minister Abdelatty reiterated the call for activating the frameworks of Arab national security and joint cooperation, stressing the importance of expediting practical steps and establishing new mechanisms to guarantee the security and sovereignty of Arab states, including the security and sovereignty of the brotherly Gulf states. This includes working to quickly activate the 1950 Joint Defense and Economic Cooperation Treaty of the League of Arab States, forming a joint Arab force capable of effectively addressing existing threats and dangers facing all Arab states, and completely rejecting the imposition of any regional security arrangements on Arab states, whether by non-Arab regional states or by parties from outside the region.

For their part, the Foreign Ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states and the Secretary-General of the Council, during the meeting, unanimously expressed their deep gratitude and appreciation for Egypt's principled stances. They commended the strong and supportive positions taken by the wise Egyptian leadership, particularly Egypt's unequivocal condemnation of the attacks targeting the Gulf states and its declaration of full solidarity with the Gulf states in this critical situation and in confronting these threats. The foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) also commended Egypt's unwavering support for the Palestinian cause, praising its pivotal role in supporting Arab issues, activating joint Arab action, and safeguarding the region's security and stability amidst current challenges.

Furthermore, the ministers discussed the institutional relationship between Egypt and the GCC, appreciating the significant progress achieved since the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding for Political Consultations and the adoption of the Joint Action Plan for 2024-2028. This progress builds upon the momentum generated by the Egyptian-Gulf Trade and Investment Forum hosted by Cairo last November, culminating efforts toward economic integration. The ministers also emphasized the importance of elevating this relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership that will positively impact economic, trade, and investment cooperation, ultimately benefiting the peoples of the region.