Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's participation in the 8th joint ministerial meeting of Russia-GCC Strategic Dialogue
11 September 2025 19:32
1464-11-09-2025
On September 11, the 8th joint ministerial meeting of Russia-GCC Strategic Dialogue was held in Sochi. The meeting was co-chaired by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Foreign Minister of the State of Kuwait, a home country of Abdullah Al Yahya who chairs the current session of the GCC ministerial meeting. Other participants included Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain Abdullatif Al Zayani, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar Sultan Al Muraikhi, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates Khalifa Al Marar, Deputy Minister for International Multilateral Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Abdulrahman Al Rassi, and Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Political Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman Khalifa Al Harthy, as well as GCC Secretary General Jassim Al Budaiwi.
Speaking at a plenary session, Sergey Lavrov pointed out that over its 14 years of existence, the Russia-GCC Strategic Dialogue has established itself as an effective and sought-after facility for exchanging views on key regional and global issues, as well as important matters of trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian cooperation. It was noted that strengthening Russia's partnership with the member countries of this organisation that enjoys high standing is among Russia's foreign policy top priorities. He highlighted our country's multifaceted and privileged dynamic relations with the GCC countries which fact is corroborated by steady and high-paced dynamics of contacts at the top and high levels, which get their tone from a regular trust-based dialogue between President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin and leaders of the GCC countries. Satisfaction was expressed with the steady growth of trade and mutual investment. It was emphasised that trade between Russia and the GCC member states had increased more than sevenfold as of late 2024 compared to 2021.
A substantive discussion of the state of affairs in the Middle East and North Africa, including the situation in the Gulf, was held. The participants emphasised the importance of stepping up joint efforts in order to strengthen stability and security in this strategically important region of the world, and using dialogue mechanisms to resolve disputes and to overcome crises by political and diplomatic means in strict compliance with international law.
The participants placed great emphasis on the situation in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict zone, underscored the importance of bringing an early ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, releasing all hostages and detainees, and restoring safe and unfettered humanitarian access. The lack of alternative to a comprehensive settlement of the Palestinian issue on an established international legal basis with a central two-state principle providing for the creation of an independent Palestinian state living in peace and harmony with Israel was confirmed.
The Israeli strikes on Doha on September 9 went under scrutiny. The participants adopted a joint statement condemning this act of aggression as a gross violation of international law and the UN Charter, and an unacceptable encroachment on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Qatar.
The heads of the foreign policy departments reviewed in detail the situation in Sudan, Yemen, Syria, and Libya and spoke in favour of keeping up consolidated efforts in the interest of developing compromise political solutions to existing issues and disagreements based on relevant UN Security Council resolutions with full respect for the unity, sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of these countries.
Russia and the GCC member states' shared focus on strengthening multifaceted and mutually beneficial business cooperation, including in promising areas such as the manufacturing industry, energy, transport, and agriculture, as well as culture, education, and tourism, was emphasised.
The participants agreed to hold the next, ninth, Russia-GCC Strategic Dialogue meeting in 2026 in one of the GCC member countries.
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