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The gathering was chaired by Bahrain Foreign Minister Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani as current president of the GCC Ministerial Council and brought together the foreign ministers of all member states at Bahrain’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations. GCC Secretary General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi said the session formed part of the group’s regular consultative process on issues of shared concern that strengthens a common Gulf stance in regional and global arenas. Albudaiwi added that the ministers reviewed scheduled joint ministerial dialogues with partner countries, regional blocs and international organisations set to take place during the high-level week.
In an announcement on its newsroom the GCC secretariat stated that these preparatory meetings allow alignment of agenda priorities to advance mutual interests and expand cooperative pathways. Albudaiwi noted that the discussions reflect the growing international weight of GCC member states in areas including security, stability and sustainable development. He emphasised that such engagements create additional opportunities for constructive regional and global dialogue.
Albudaiwi underscored that the proactive participation of Gulf countries in multilateral settings demonstrates both their elevated global standing and their dedication to broadening strategic partnerships. The GCC has conducted comparable ministerial coordination meetings on the sidelines of prior UN General Assembly sessions in recent years, the secretariat has reported. These gatherings consistently focus on harmonising positions before the start of high-level diplomatic activities.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah joined the coordination session along with his counterparts from the remaining member states, the Saudi Press Agency indicated. The ministers examined recent regional developments and their potential effects on Gulf security and stability. Preparations for the various bilateral and multilateral meetings during the assembly were coordinated to ensure consistent messaging across all engagements.
The 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly opened with a heavy agenda that includes debates on international peace, climate action and sustainable development goals. GCC member states have used previous assemblies to present coordinated views on Middle East issues and to hold dialogues with major global partners, according to records from the GCC secretariat. This year’s coordination meeting continues that established practice of pre-assembly alignment.
Kuwait Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and Qatar Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani also attended the New York meeting, separate reports from national news agencies confirmed. The session concluded with agreement on the importance of maintaining close consultation throughout the assembly’s high-level segment. Albudaiwi described the gathering as further evidence of the GCC’s commitment to unified action in international forums.
