The meeting scheduled for next August 24 in Riyadh between the European Union and the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) has been postponed sine die, in a context marked by the intensification of fighting between Houthi rebels and the internationally recognized Yemeni government, backed by the military coalition led by Saudi Arabia.
What was to be the second summit between both shores has been postponed "and a new date will be announced in due time," the Council indicated in a brief note in which it avoids providing further explanations about the reasons for the decision, communicated on the same day that the heads of state and government of the EU meet in Brussels.
The meeting was meant to continue the first summit between the Twenty-Seven and Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, held on October 16, 2024, in Brussels, and was to take place after both parties had strengthened their political contacts following the war in Iran.
"The partnership between the EU and the GCC is of great strategic importance for both regions. The EU remains committed to deepening this partnership and sustaining the momentum built with the first summit of October 2024," emphasizes the European statement.
On September 3, the Houthis launched a large-scale offensive in western Yemen that has since included numerous missile and drone attacks against Saudi Arabia, including against several airports, in response to the backing of the international coalition led by Riyadh for the military operations of the internationally recognized Yemeni authorities.
Days later, the forces loyal to the Yemeni authorities endorsed by the international community announced on October 4 a large-scale offensive to recover the areas recently conquered by the Houthis and even advance towards the capital, Sana'a, controlled by the rebels since 2014.