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On 5 and 6 October 2025, Under Secretary of State and Political Director Ivars Lasis participated in the second high-level forum of the European Union (EU) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in Kuwait, as well as in a ministerial-level meeting on regional security and cooperation.
At the forum, the officials talked about the situation in Iran and agreed that Iran should get back to working with the International Atomic Energy Agency right away. At the same time, the participants stressed that negotiations with Iran must not stop until a sustainable solution has been reached on limiting the future development of the nuclear program of Iran.
The contribution to security in the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf made by the EU naval security operation to protect freedom of navigation (EUNAVFOR ASPIDES) and cooperation between the GCC countries was viewed positively.
At the ministerial meeting, the officials expressed their joint support for US President Donald Trump’s peace plan for Gaza and their gratitude to Qatar and the other countries involved in the negotiations. The EU Member States also thanked the GCC countries for their support to Ukraine and called for continued joint pressure on Russia to stop its aggression and agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine.
The discussions also covered the current situation in Yemen, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and the Horn of Africa. The current EU-GCC cooperation and prospects for future development were discussed separately.
The event was opened by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kuwait Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, GCC Secretary-General Jassem Al Badawi, and EU Special Representative for the Gulf Region Luigi Di Maio.