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The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that Vice Minister Engineer Waleed bin Abdulkarim Al-Khuraiji participated in the third GCC-European Union High-Level Forum on Regional Security and Cooperation held in Brussels. Al-Khuraiji was accompanied by Minister Plenipotentiary at the ministry Dr. Manal Radwan during the sessions that brought together senior officials from GCC states and the European Union. The ministry statement detailed a series of sideline bilateral meetings that addressed both immediate regional challenges and longer-term partnership opportunities between Saudi Arabia and European nations.
According to the ministry Al-Khuraiji first met Norway’s State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Andreas Kravik to review bilateral relations and explore prospects for expanding cooperation in various fields. The two officials exchanged views on key regional and international issues of mutual interest during the discussion. The ministry noted that the conversation reflected the strong diplomatic ties that have developed between Riyadh and Oslo over successive years.
The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs added that Al-Khuraiji held separate talks with Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Ambassador Musa Kulaklıkaya centered on strengthening bilateral relations and enhancing coordination on issues of shared concern. Both sides reviewed recent developments and agreed on the value of continued dialogue to advance common objectives. These discussions built upon existing frameworks for political and economic collaboration between the two countries.
In a further meeting covered by the ministry Al-Khuraiji engaged with Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen on bolstering both bilateral and multilateral coordination mechanisms. The conversation touched on areas where joint efforts could contribute to greater stability across the Middle East and beyond. The ministry described the exchange as constructive and aligned with broader diplomatic initiatives pursued by Saudi Arabia in European capitals.
The ministry statement continued that Al-Khuraiji also conferred with Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Alexandra Papadopoulou to assess bilateral relations and analyze ongoing regional developments. Topics included potential avenues for deeper partnership in economic and security domains. Officials from both sides expressed commitment to maintaining open channels of communication as regional dynamics evolve.
According to the ministry the vice minister additionally met European Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Šuica and European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner in separate sessions. Discussions with Šuica concentrated on reinforcing bilateral cooperation while the meeting with Brunner reviewed overall bilateral relations and addressed pertinent issues in migration and internal affairs. These engagements underscored Saudi Arabia’s active role in forums that shape EU-GCC relations.
A European Union external action service overview from last year placed GCC-EU trade volumes above 200 billion euros annually with Saudi Arabia ranking among the bloc’s top energy suppliers a dynamic that has gained added significance amid global supply concerns. The third High-Level Forum continues a dialogue process launched in 2022 that has produced joint declarations on maritime security and counterterrorism according to archived EU records. Saudi officials have consistently positioned these meetings as platforms to align positions on Yemen the Palestinian issue and Gulf stability.
