Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will hold the sixth ministerial meeting of the strategic dialogue between Russia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in Moscow on Monday.
The upcoming meeting aims to strengthen the relations between the Gulf Cooperation Council and Russia, focusing on various international and regional cooperation issues, as announced by GCC Secretary-General Jassim Muhammad Al-Budaiwi.
Potential mediation role
The situation in Ukraine is expected to be a significant topic on the agenda. It is likely that Minister Lavrov will update his GCC counterparts on the progress of the military operation and provide Russia's perspective on the factors contributing to the escalation of the conflict. The foreign ministers of the GCC may express interest in playing a mediation role in achieving a political and diplomatic settlement.
Various leaders and groups, including Turkey, Belarus and other organizations have already offered their services in resolving the conflict. Thus, a delegation from the Arab League contact group on Ukraine and a peacekeeping mission consisting of seven African countries, following China's proposal for a peace plan, have already visited Moscow. Given their experience in mediating Russian-Ukrainian contacts, notable GCC members such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE may also contribute to peaceful resolution efforts. Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously acknowledged the assistance of Riyadh and Abu Dhabi in facilitating the exchange of prisoners of war between Russia and Ukraine.
Palestinian-Israeli settlement
The recent escalation in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is anticipated to be another significant topic of discussion during the meeting. On July 3, Israeli forces launched a large-scale operation in Jenin and its corresponding refugee camp, resulting in casualties and heightening tensions. In response, the Palestinian leadership has severed all contacts with Israeli authorities and reduced cooperation on security matters.
During an interview with TASS, Palestinian Ambassador in Moscow Abdel Hafiz Nofal emphasized the need for an immediate and practical response from the international community, emphasizing that routine appeals for restraint are no longer sufficient. The GCC foreign ministers have been closely monitoring the situation, and their March appeal to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized the importance of achieving a just and comprehensive settlement based on international law. The meeting in Moscow is expected to explore possible avenues for advancing the settlement, including reactivating the Middle East quartet (comprising Russia, the US, the EU and the UN). The ministers are also likely to address the normalization of situations in countries such as Syria, Libya and Yemen.
Trade and economic cooperation
The discussion on trade and economic cooperation will occupy a significant portion of the talks. During Lavrov's visit to Riyadh last summer, he engaged in discussions with then GCC Secretary-General Nayef Falah al-Hajraf regarding the prospects of industrial cooperation. Both sides expressed support for expanding collaboration and implementing joint projects in Russia and GCC countries. Notably, the introduction of advanced Russian technologies, including nuclear power and peaceful space, has been identified as one of the most promising areas of cooperation.
Moreover, VTB CEO Andrei Kostin recently proposed the establishment of an alternative international depositary settlement hub in one of the Persian Gulf countries, considering the concentration of substantial capital in the region. Bank of Russia Governor Elvira Nabiullina welcomed the proposal as productive and urged discussions with market participants and international partners. It is expected that the GCC ministers will engage in a detailed examination of economic issues and discuss this initiative further in their interactions with the Russian side.
The GCC is a regional organization consisting of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Established in 1981, its objectives include political coordination, economic integration, and regional security and defense cooperation in the Persian Gulf. The Russia-GCC strategic dialogue began in 2016, with the first meeting held in Riyadh in 2017.
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Photo: Russian Foreign Ministry
Based on materials from TASS