EU holds first summit with Gulf states to discuss isolating Russia
Illustrative photo (Getty Images)
The European Union is holding its first summit with Gulf states on October 16, as part of the EU's diplomatic efforts to strengthen ties with distant allies in a bid to gain international support for isolating Russia, citing Reuters.
Since Moscow invaded Ukraine, the 27 EU countries have expanded contacts with other regional blocs, holding their first summit with ASEAN nations and their first summit in eight years with the CELAC community, which unites countries from the Caribbean and Latin America.
The goal of the meeting with the six wealthy Arab states in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is to make relations more strategic, recognizing the influence of these countries, particularly in conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
"The Gulf region is at the crossroads between Asia, Europe and Africa. It plays a very important role in many of the crisis of today," a senior EU official said.
The EU’s partnership with Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates will cover trade and investment, renewable energy, regional security, and civil matters, such as visas.
While Brussels hopes its GCC partners will agree to tough language regarding Russia's military assault on Ukraine, it does not expect them to fully embrace its position in condemning Moscow. The two blocs may have grown closer in the Middle East, where the EU is calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and a broader de-escalation.
Negotiations on a free trade agreement between the EU and the GCC, which began 35 years ago, have been stalled since 2008 due to differences over the openness of public tenders and oil products. However, EU officials said there are other avenues for trade and investment cooperation.
According to Reuters, in March, the UAE quietly urged the EU to begin talks on a separate trade pact with them.
One of the requests from the Gulf states is visa liberalization. Currently, UAE citizens do not need EU visas for short stays, while citizens of other Gulf countries must obtain a visa valid for five years.
