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GCC, UK Discuss Security and Political Cooperation | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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GCC and UK delegations during the meeting (Asharq Al-Awsat)


Riyadh – General Secretariat of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) met on Tuesday with British government delegation in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to discuss means of cooperation between the council and the United Kingdom in several areas including politics, economics, security, and defense.

The meeting is a follow up to execute outcomes of UK-GCC summit held earlier in December 2016 between leaders of GCC and British Prime Minister Theresa May.

GCC delegation was head by Assistant Secretary General for Foreign Affairs of GCC Abdel Aziz al-Uwaisheg, while UK’s was led by British Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Simon Collis.

Uwaisheg said that meeting is to follow up on the outcomes of the summit and to prepare for the upcoming summit between the two parties. In addition, it aims at enhancing cooperation between the UK and Saudi Arabia in means of defense and regional security dialogue, coordination of humanitarian and development aid, trade, investment and cultural and scientific cooperation.

Earlier in December, both kingdoms agreed on an annual meeting between high officials to further enhance the strategic partnership announced before.

Current meetings between Gulf and UK officials are done per the directives of Gulf leaders and British PM that instructed the officials to review the partnership and extend its time framework.

The partners previously expressed their pleasure for the partnership where UK shares a deep interest in supporting the political independence and territorial integrity of GCC member states.

UK remains committed to working with GCC states to deter external aggression and interference in their internal affairs contrary to international law and the UN Charter, just as it did during the Gulf War and on other occasions.

The GCC and UK expressed unequivocal commitment to enhance their shared security interests in the Gulf region, including to deter and respond to external aggression. They committed to strengthening engagement on security assistance, cooperation and training.