GCC Ministerial Council concludes meeting in Makkah, discusses regional, global issues

On Thursday, March 6, 2025, the 163rd Ministerial Council meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) convened in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, under the chairmanship of Kuwait's Foreign Minister, Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya. The assembly brought together foreign ministers from GCC member states to deliberate on recent regional and international developments.

The council addressed several key issues, including the ongoing situation in Palestine. They reaffirmed their support for the outcomes of the extraordinary Arab summit, "The Palestine Summit," held on March 4, 2025, in Cairo, Egypt, emphasizing the need to end the blockade on Gaza and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to its residents.

In addition to the main council meeting, joint ministerial sessions were held with representatives from Egypt, Syria, Morocco and Jordan. These discussions focused on enhancing strategic relations and joint cooperation across various sectors to achieve mutual interests, as well as continuing consultation and coordination on regional and international issues to support regional security and stability.

The council also reviewed reports on the implementation of decisions made by the GCC Supreme Council during its 45th session in Kuwait in December 2024. Discussions encompassed memorandums and reports submitted by ministerial and technical committees, as well as the General Secretariat. Additionally, officials addressed matters related to strategic dialogues and relations between the GCC, other states, and global blocs, focusing on recent regional and international developments affecting the region.