The second summit between the European Union (EU) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), initially scheduled for 24 October in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was postponed at a time of worsening regional tensions. The decision arises when the Huthis rebels attack Saudi territory.
© Mohammed Hamoud/Getty Images
15/10/2026
by
Lusa
EU Gulf
A the second summit between the European Union (EU) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), initially scheduled for 24 October in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was postponed today at a time of worsening regional tensions.
“ The second between the EU and the GCC, initially scheduled for 24 October 2026, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was postponed. A new date will be announced in due course,” the Council of the Union said in a statement at a time of tensions marked by the intensification of Huthis rebels’ attacks on Saudi territory.
“The partnership between the EU and the GCC is of great strategic importance for both regions. The EU maintains its commitment to deepen this partnership and to continue the momentum created since the first summit in October 2024,” the institution said.
The GCC covers the six GCC countries, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and United Arab Emirates.
Although the postponement was announced without a specific justification relating to the security situation in the region, the decision nevertheless arises in a context of military escalation in the Middle East, with the Huthis, a rebel movement that controls part of Yemen and is supported by Iran, intensifying actions against Saudi interests.
In recent days, missile and drone attacks (remotely piloted aircraft) attributed to Huthis have hit infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, including airport and oil facilities, increasing concerns about kingdom security and regional stability.
The escalation is linked to the resumption of clashes in Yemen, where Saudi Arabia supports government forces against Huthis, and threatens to extend instability to the main trade and energy routes in the Middle East.
The Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a strategic transition to international maritime trade, are also a source of concern due to threats to commercial navigation and the risk of disruption in supply chains.
The EU has condemned Huthis attacks on Saudi territory and has called for respect for international law and the protection of commercial navigation.
Brussels also maintains the Aspides naval operation to contribute to the safety of shipping in the Red Sea and adjacent waters.
The EU-GCC Summit should allow for further political coordination and economic, energy and security cooperation between the two regions.