New York, September (پاکستان پوائنٹ نیوز 25 سبتمبر 2025ء) The Foreign Ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council member states and the Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the United Kingdom, together with GCC Secretary General Jasem Al Budaiwi, met in New York on September 24, 2025 to discuss regional and global issues and strengthen coordination in line with the GCC-UK Strategic Partnership, with a focus on promoting peace, security, and prosperity.
The ministers underscored their commitment to promoting peace and working together to resolve conflicts and address instability. The ministers praised efforts of Gulf States to bring regional conflicts to an end through mediation, dialogue, and the promotion of mutual understanding. The ministers welcomed the election of Bahrain to the UN Security Council as a non-permanent member for 2026-2027.
The UK and GCC resolved to continue working closely together to pursue peace in unstable and conflict-afflicted regions.
The GCC and UK condemned Israel’s strike on Doha on September 9, which constituted a flagrant violation of Qatar’s sovereignty. They underscored their support for Qatar's sovereignty and territorial integrity, in line with the principles of the United Nations Charter. Such actions risked setting back negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza, which is the only way to achieve lasting peace. The ministers expressed full support for the vital role that Qatar continues to play in mediation efforts between Israel and Hamas, alongside Egypt and the United States.
The ministers condemned the humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip and Israel’s restrictions on aid that have exacerbated famine and human suffering. The ministers called on all parties to the conflict to comply with their obligations under International Humanitarian Law, including those related to the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure.
The ministers praised the success of the high-level international conference on the peaceful settlement of the Palestinian Cause and the implementation of the two-state solution, co-chaired by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of France, held on July 28-30, and the High-level meeting on September 22, at the United Nations headquarters. The ministers affirmed their support for all efforts aimed at ending the war in the Gaza Strip and achieving a just and sustainable settlement through the implementation of the two-state solution and ensuring stability and security for all countries in the region. They also affirmed their support for the efforts of the global alliance to implement the two-state solution.
The ministers praised the positive decisions taken by the United Kingdom and other countries to recognize the State of Palestine, underscoring the growing international consensus on a two-state solution.
The ministers underscored the importance of preserving the historic status quo of Jerusalem and its holy sites, recognizing the special role of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in this regard. The ministers also reiterated their support for the Palestinian Authority.
The ministers affirmed there must be unified Palestinian-led governance in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority. They recommitted themselves to supporting Palestinian aspirations of self-determination and ensuring that Palestinians are at the centre of post-conflict governance, security and early recovery in Gaza. In the context of ending the war in Gaza, Hamas must end its rule in Gaza.
The ministers called for de-escalation in the middle East and underlined the focus must be on reaching a lasting ceasefire, leading to a permanent end to hostilities, the release of all hostages, the exchange of Palestinian prisoners, and the significant and continuous scaling up of life-saving assistance for Palestinian civilians. They urged all parties to negotiate in good faith to restore peace and security in the region. The ministers stressed the importance of supporting the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) and its key role in supporting relief, humanitarian and development efforts, and ensuring its continued performance of its duties in a manner that guarantees the provision of basic needs for the Palestinian people.
The ministers continued to follow the issue of the maritime border between the Republic of Iraq and the State of Kuwait. Solving the outstanding issues between the two neighboring countries in accordance with international law would contribute positively to regional stability and cooperation.
The ministers highlighted the importance of the State of Kuwait’s sovereignty, and territorial integrity, and respect for international conventions and relevant UN resolutions, especially UN Security Council Resolution 833 regarding the demarcation of the Kuwait-Iraq boundary.
The ministers urged the complete demarcation of the Kuwait-Iraq maritime borders beyond Mark 162, in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 1982, and the rules and principles of international law, and in line with previous agreements.
The ministers called on the Government of Iraq to resolve the domestic legal status of the 2012 Kuwait-Iraq Agreement, which regulates maritime navigation in Khor Abdullah, and ensure that the agreement remains in force.
The ministers welcomed the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2792, underscoring the Council’s responsibility to ensure full implementation of all its mandates and safeguarding justice and accountability. They noted the role of the Senior Representative whose mandate would solely focus on promoting, supporting and facilitating efforts regarding the repatriation or return of all Kuwaiti and third country nationals or their remains, and the return of Kuwaiti property, including the national archives. They urged the exertion of maximum efforts to reach a resolution of all the issues involved.
On Syria, the ministers reaffirmed their commitment to support the Syrian Government in making progress towards an inclusive, representative and non-sectarian political transition that respects the rights of all Syrians, regardless of ethnic or religious background. The ministers welcomed the announcement by the Syrian Arab Republic on reaching a roadmap to resolve the crisis in As-Suwayda Governorate, praising the efforts made by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the United States of America in this regard.
The ministers shared their commitment to support the Syrian Government to deliver a future that is more stable, free and prosperous. They reaffirmed the importance of addressing ongoing humanitarian need and boosting economic recovery and stressed the urgency of an agreement between the Syrian Government and the Syrian Democratic Forces to be implemented in full. The ministers commended the efforts of the Gulf Cooperation Council member states to enhance economic cooperation and support Syria’s path towards recovery and stability.
Regarding security, the ministers stressed the need for Israel to stop attacks on the Syrian Arab Republic, which destabilize Syria’s security, the unity and integrity of its territories and its citizens, and undermine the efforts of the Syrian government to maintain security and stability. The ministers also emphasised what was stated in UN Security Council Resolution 2782 regarding the necessity of all parties adhering to the 1974 Disengagement Agreement.
The ministers reaffirmed the importance of reaching a just and sustainable peace in Ukraine, grounded in respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Charter. They agreed to intensify efforts to mitigate the global repercussions of the war, including its humanitarian, economic, and security impacts.
The ministers underscored their shared commitment to identifying viable pathways towards such a peace. They welcomed ongoing efforts led by the United States with the support of Middle Eastern partners, such as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to facilitate dialogue and promote stability.
The ministers also recognized the importance of humanitarian measures, including the facilitation of prisoner exchanges, and reaffirmed their support for initiatives aimed at alleviating human suffering. The ministers commended the efforts of the Gulf Cooperation Council member states in contributing to a political solution to the crisis between Russia and Ukraine, and their initiatives in mediation, the release of detainees, prisoner exchanges, and the reunification of children with their families.
The ministers deeply regretted the devastating humanitarian suffering in Sudan and recalled efforts to bring the conflict between the warring parties to an end. The ministers welcomed the statement issued by the Foreign Ministers of the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Arab Republic of Egypt and the United States of America on September12, 2025 regarding the restoration of peace and security in Sudan, and praised the efforts in this regard, including through the London Sudan Conference in April 2025. The ministers resolved to coordinate efforts to bring the conflict to an end, ensure that humanitarian aid reaches those in need, and to protect civilians. In the immediate term, the GCC and UK called for an urgent humanitarian ceasefire in El Fasher to allow large scale aid delivery into Darfur and address the desperate humanitarian needs of Sudanese people facing famine.
The ministers agreed that a diplomatic solution is needed for the Iranian nuclear program. They agreed that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon and appreciated efforts by the Gulf, and particularly by the Sultanate of Oman, to act as an intermediary between the US and Iran. The ministers confirmed that regional escalation was not in anybody’s interest and reiterated their shared commitment to supporting shared stability in the region. They condemned in the strongest terms Iranian strikes on Al Udeid on June 23.
The ministers stressed the importance of constructive cooperation between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency, and the need to intensify diplomatic efforts to ensure that all parties comply with relevant international agreements, thereby contributing to building confidence and enhancing regional and international security and stability.
The ministers reiterated their support for the United Arab Emirates’ call to reach a peaceful solution to the dispute over the 3 islands, Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa, through bilateral negotiations or the International Court of Justice, in accordance with the rules of international law including the UN Charter.
The GCC and UK underscored the sanctity of freedom of navigation and safe maritime passage through the Red Sea, condemning Houthi aggression that has harmed innocent mariners and threatened regional economies and international shipping. They stressed the need to contain the Houthis’ destabilising actions and highlighted ongoing violations of UNSCR 2216, including continued weapons imports and stockpiling.
The ministers agreed that a political process leading to a sustainable political settlement is the best long-term solution for Yemen. Ministers emphasized that a stable and effective Government of Yemen is vital to peace and stability. They called on the region and the international community to demonstrate and provide support to the Government of Yemen.
Ministers strongly condemned the unlawful detention of at least 19 UN personnel since August 31, demanding their immediate release. They expressed deep concern over Houthi intimidation of humanitarian workers, especially amid worsening food insecurity. With 18 million people acutely food insecure and famine-like conditions projected, they urged coordinated international action to prevent a humanitarian disaster.
The ministers praised the ongoing efforts of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Sultanate of Oman in engaging with all Yemeni parties and stressed the importance of reviving the political process that would lead to a comprehensive and sustainable political solution in Yemen. They emphasized the importance of the Houthis’ engagement with international and United Nations efforts as critical to ending the Yemeni crisis and alleviating the suffering of the Yemeni people. The ministers also praised the achievements of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief), the humanitarian support provided by the GCC Humanitarian and Relief Coordination Office to the Republic of Yemen, as well as the humanitarian and development assistance extended by all GCC member states to Yemen.
The GCC and UK highlighted the deep and growing trading relationship, with bilateral trade exceeding £53 billion ($72 billion) in 2024. The ministers agreed on the importance of growing two-way trade and investment further to advance mutual growth and prosperity.
The GCC and UK also reaffirmed their commitment to the promotion of free trade. Both sides restated their commitment to prioritizing conclusion of the GCC-UK Free Trade Agreement, recognizing that a commercially meaningful deal would further enhance trade and investment ties, benefit businesses, and support high skilled job creation in the UK and GCC member states.
In closing, the ministers re-affirmed their shared determination to contribute to regional security, stability, and prosperity under the framework of the GCC-UK Strategic Partnership. They underscored their mutual resolve to build closer relations in all fields, including political, security and economic cooperation.
