Manama: Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs and current President of the Ministerial Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), chaired the GCC-Canada Strategic Dialogue Ministerial Meeting. The meeting was attended by GCC foreign ministers, Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada, and Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the GCC.
According to Bahrain News Agency, Dr. Al Zayani conveyed the greetings of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister. He expressed Bahrain's pride in hosting the meeting and welcomed Canada's participation, noting that it reflects Canada's solidarity with GCC member states and support for their security and stability amid current regional developments.
The minister highlighted the growing partnership between the GCC and Canada, as evidenced by the Joint Action Plan 2025-2029, which covers political, security, trade, and investment cooperation. Dr. Al Zayani mentioned that the meeting was being held amid continued Iranian attacks targeting GCC states with ballistic missiles and drones aimed at civilian facilities, energy infrastructure, and residential areas, in violation of the Charter of the United Nations, international law, principles of good neighbourliness, and United Nations Security Council Resolution 2817. He noted that the recent attacks on Bahrain and Kuwait resulted in fatalities and serious injuries.
The minister emphasized the right of GCC states to protect their security and citizens, while stressing the importance of intensified diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation. He also expressed appreciation for Canada's support for GCC states, its condemnation of the attacks, and its support for Security Council Resolution 2817.
Dr. Al Zayani underscored the close connection between the security of the Gulf region and global economic stability, energy security, and supply chains. He warned that attempts to close the Strait of Hormuz or use international waterways as a means of political pressure pose a serious threat to global trade and energy flows, stressing that freedom of navigation must be preserved in accordance with international law.
The minister reaffirmed that regional security and stability depend on resolving disputes through peaceful means and dialogue, including achieving a just and comprehensive peace in Palestine leading to the establishment of an independent, sovereign, and viable Palestinian state, maintaining the ceasefire in Gaza, delivering humanitarian aid, and supporting reconstruction efforts.
He also reiterated GCC support for the security, stability, and unity of Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Libya, and Sudan, and for strengthening state authority and sovereignty in those countries.
The two sides reviewed GCC-Canada relations within the framework of the strategic dialogue and discussed opportunities to expand cooperation in trade, investment, logistics, infrastructure, energy, defence industries, and food security. They also reviewed progress achieved under the partnership and agreed that the GCC General Secretariat would coordinate with member states and Canada to advance cooperation under the Joint Action Plan 2025-2029.
The meeting discussed regional developments, including the Iranian attacks targeting civilian facilities, vital infrastructure, and residential areas in GCC states, the implications of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz on maritime navigation, energy supplies, food security, and international trade, as well as Pakistani mediation efforts aimed at reaching an agreement that would restore peace, security, and stability in the region.
The two sides also discussed developments in Lebanon and Palestine and efforts to advance comprehensive peace across the region.
The Kingdom of Bahrain was represented at the meeting by Ambassador Shaikh Abdullah bin Ali Al Khalifa, Director General of Bilateral Relations, with the participation of Dr. Yousif Abdulkarim Bucheeri, Director General of Legal Affairs and Human Rights; Saeed Abdul Khaliq Saeed, Director of the Coordination and Follow-up Sector; and Ambassador Nawar Abdullah Al Mutawa, Acting Head of the GCC Affairs Sector.