GCC Secretary-General: Gulf-French partnership is solid, and we look forward to expanding its scope
The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Jassem Al-Budaiwi, affirmed on Monday that the relations between the GCC member states and France are based on a solid strategic partnership and shared interests and visions, emphasizing the importance of continuing efforts to elevate and expand these relations in ways that support security, stability, and peace in the region and the world.
This statement was made by Al-Budaiwi during the joint ministerial meeting between the GCC and France in New York, chaired by the current chairman of the GCC Ministerial Council, Bahraini Foreign Minister Dr. Abdul Latif bin Rashid Al Zayani, and French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barro, with the participation of the foreign ministers of the GCC member states.
Al-Budaiwi stated that the GCC regards France as an important strategic partner at the level of bilateral relations, as well as within the framework of GCC-European relations, appreciating Paris’s role in supporting and strengthening the partnership between the GCC and the European Union.
He expressed the GCC states’ hope that the upcoming second GCC-European summit, scheduled to be held in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on October 24, will serve as an important milestone for elevating this partnership and achieving tangible results in areas of priority for both sides.
He clarified that the General Secretariat continued coordination with the French side regarding the draft joint action plan, and an updated version containing mechanisms for cooperation in various fields has been reached. He expressed his hope that the procedures for its adoption will be completed at the earliest opportunity.
On the economic front, Al-Budaiwi highlighted the robustness of relations between the two sides, noting that the volume of trade between the GCC member states and France exceeded 60 billion euros (approximately 69 billion US dollars), reflecting the opportunities and potential available to enhance trade, investment, and cooperation in priority sectors.
On the regional level, he stated that the meeting takes place against the backdrop of highly delicate conditions facing the region, pointing to the Iranian attacks targeting GCC member states since February 28, which struck vital facilities and diplomatic missions, despite the fact that the GCC states were not parties to the conflict and made efforts to mediate and contain the escalation.
He stressed the GCC states’ position calling for ensuring the security and safety of waterways and freedom of international navigation, as well as the necessity of adhering to UN Security Council Resolution 2817 and restoring navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandab to its pre-February 28 status, while rejecting the imposition of any unilateral fees or conditions on the right of passage.
In this context, he appreciated France’s position rejecting attacks on the GCC states and its participation in international efforts aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
Regarding the Palestinian issue, Al-Budaiwi reiterated its centrality and the necessity of ending the Israeli occupation and establishing an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with the Arab Peace Initiative and international legitimacy resolutions.
He also appreciated France’s decision to recognize the State of Palestine and its role, in partnership with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in advancing the implementation of the two-state solution, as well as its positions supporting the halt of settlement expansion and settler violence. He also commended the French efforts supporting Lebanon.
Al-Budaiwi affirmed that the partnership between the GCC and France goes beyond addressing current challenges to building a shared vision for a more secure, stable, and prosperous future, and expanding cooperation in political, security, economic, investment, technical, energy, defense, and educational fields.
