The ninth round of the "Strategic Dialogue between Russia and the Gulf Cooperation Council" at the level of foreign ministers began on Sunday, October 18, in the city of Manama, the capital of Bahrain. This meeting was held with the participation of Sergey Lavrov, the Foreign Minister of Russia, and was last held in September 2025 in the city of Sochi, Russia.
Topics Discussed
Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, had previously announced that a wide range of international and regional issues would be discussed at this meeting. Lavrov will also have other meetings on the sidelines of this session.
In his speech at this meeting, Lavrov stated: "Russia supports the efforts of Arab countries to maintain peace and prevent a major war in the Middle East." He also mentioned that Moscow participates in peaceful efforts to prevent a full-scale war in the Gulf region, where security is very important.
Call for Direct Negotiations
The Russian Foreign Minister further called for direct negotiations between Gulf countries and neighboring countries, including Iraq and Jordan, with possible participation from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the United Nations Security Council. This call for cooperation and dialogue was made to reduce tensions and enhance security in the region.
Abdul Latif Al Zayani, the Foreign Minister of Bahrain, also stated at this meeting that regional security requires adherence to international law and dialogue, not escalation of tensions or threats. These remarks reflect the willingness of Arab countries to create a safe and stable environment in the Gulf.
The strategic dialogue meeting in Manama is seen as an important opportunity to address regional challenges and enhance international cooperation. It is expected that the outcomes of this meeting will have positive impacts on relations between Russia and the member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council and help reduce existing tensions in the region.
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