Brussels said on Thursday that a summit between the European Union and Gulf countries in Riyadh has been postponed, as Saudi Arabia faces sustained attacks from Yemen’s Houthis. The second summit between the EU and the Gulf Cooperation Council was originally planned for 24 October 2026 in the Saudi capital.
The European Council, which speaks for the governments of the 27-nation bloc, said a new date would be announced later.
Houthi strikes deepen security concerns in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia has come under sustained Houthi attack in recent days. A strike on Riyadh’s international airport was the deadliest the kingdom has seen in years, as its war with the group escalates.
A Saudi-led coalition has backed Yemen’s government militarily against the Houthis since 2015, in a long-running civil war that has created a humanitarian crisis.
EU seeks deeper trade and security ties with the Gulf
The EU has sought to strengthen trade and security links with the Gulf Cooperation Council, whose members are Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. The meeting was meant to act as a catalyst at a time when the regional war is battering Gulf economies and threatening Europe’s energy supplies.
The security situation in Saudi Arabia appears to have forced the postponement. The European Council said the partnership is of great strategic importance to both regions and that the EU remains committed to deepening it.
