Abu dhabi: Foreign Ministers from the Gulf Cooperation Council and the European Union convened at the High Level Forum on Regional Security and Cooperation in Brussels, focusing on developments in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz. Lana Nusseibeh, Minister of State, represented the UAE at this significant gathering.
According to Emirates News Agency, the meeting was co-convened by EU High Representative Kaja Kallas, GCC Secretary General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, and Bahrain's Foreign Minister Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani. The forum was held alongside the Foreign Affairs Council of EU ministers. During her visit, Nusseibeh engaged in high-level political consultations with European counterparts, including the Foreign Ministers of Malta, Lithuania, Romania, and Slovenia, as well as representatives from Denmark, Norway, and Slovakia. She also met with Maroes efcovic, the European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security.
In discussions on regional stability and geopolitics, Nusseibeh addressed the changing security dynamics in the Middle East and Gulf, emphasizing the significance of peace and security in the Gulf and the freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. She highlighted that threats to commercial shipping and the misuse of the Strait for economic coercion are unacceptable, labeling such actions as piracy that threaten regional and global security.
On the economic front, Nusseibeh and Commissioner efcovic discussed the ongoing negotiations for a UAE-EU Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. The UAE is the EU's largest export market and investment partner in the Middle East and North Africa, with annual bilateral trade exceeding £94 billion. Nusseibeh underscored the strategic nature of the partnership between the UAE and the EU, highlighting their complementary strengths and shared economic challenges.
Nusseibeh emphasized the UAE's commitment to open, rules-based trade, noting the country's success in concluding over 37 agreements with strategic partners globally since 2021. She sees the future CEPA with the EU as pivotal, aiming to expand trade, enhance investment opportunities, and strengthen supply chains.
Additionally, Nusseibeh participated in the Palestine Donor Group Meeting, where discussions focused on advancing peace and addressing humanitarian needs in Gaza. The meeting reaffirmed the importance of international cooperation to support Gaza's recovery and governance, aiming for lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians.