Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s participation in the 6th meeting of the Russia-Gulf Cooperation Council strategic dialogue

On July 10, Moscow hosted the 6th ministerial meeting of the Russia-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), chaired by Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov and Foreign Minister of the Sultanate of Oman Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al-Busaidi (Oman currently holds the chairmanship of the Gulf Cooperation Council).

Other attendees included: Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain Abdullatif bin Rashid Alzayani; Foreign Minister of the State of Kuwait Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah; Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud; Foreign Minister of the State of Qatar Soltan bin Saad Al-Muraikhi; Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the United Arab Emirates Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar; and Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jasem Mohamed AlBudaiwi.

In his remarks, Sergey Lavrov noted that, in the 12 years of this format, the Russia-GCC strategic dialogue had won a reputation as an effective mechanism for exchanging opinions on key regional and global issues and ways of expanding economic, cultural and humanitarian cooperation. It was also noted that diverse collaboration between Russia and the GCC states continues to develop steadily, as highlighted by the more frequent top-level and high-level contacts. Regular trust-based dialogues between President of Russia Vladimir Putin and the leaders of the GCC member countries facilitates these contacts. In this context, the sides expressed satisfaction with the positive mutual trade indicators despite the complicated geopolitical conditions. In late 2022, trade volumes between Russia and the GCC countries increased 6.3 percent over 2021 to over $11 billion.

The parties discussed and reviewed the situation in the Middle East and North Africa in great detail, including the strategically important Persian Gulf region. They touched on the issue of establishing a stable collective security system in the interests of effectively countering the variety of challenges and threats that beset the Middle East region. The meeting participants agreed that it was necessary to address persisting problems and crises through wide-ranging national dialogues and by unfailingly respecting the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of states.

While discussing the situation in and around Syria, the sides prioritised the tasks of advancing a comprehensive political settlement and the country’s post-conflict reconstruction, as well as the need to expand international humanitarian relief aid for the Syrian Arab Republic. They noted important achievements in mending relations between Syria and its regional neighbours, primarily reinstating Syria’s Arab League membership as formalised in a resolution at the Arab League’s May 19, 2023 summit in Jeddah.

The meeting participants reaffirmed the importance of consolidated efforts to promote intra-Palestinian unity and to resume Palestinian-Israeli talks to attain an equitable settlement in the Palestinian problem based on internationally recognised international law, including the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative.     

The sides discussed the situation in Sudan and Yemen and emphasised the need to find specific ways of resolving the multiple problems these countries face (and which impact the neighbouring states) on a long-term and comprehensive basis.

In their remarks, the Russian Foreign Minister and Arab ministers noted their common interest in expanding and diversifying mutually beneficial ties, with due consideration for the impressive economic potential of Russia and the GCC member states. They noted their promising long-term cooperation, including in the oil and gas sector, the power industry, transport infrastructure, the introduction of the latest technology, such as civilian nuclear technology, as well as cooperation in the space exploration, tourism, cultural and humanitarian spheres.

Following the foreign policy discussion, the sides approved a Joint Statement including the Joint Action Plan between the Russian Federation and the GCC for 2023-2028.

The sides agreed to hold the next, 7th meeting of the Russia-GCC strategic dialogue in 2024 in a GCC member country.