The second European Union-Gulf Cooperation Council (EU-GCC) Summit, scheduled for October 24 in Riyadh, has been postponed amid escalating attacks by the Houthi militia on Saudi Arabia.
The GCC announced the postponement on Thursday, saying both sides would agree on a new date.
GCC Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi said the decision reflected “the continued attempts by the terrorist Houthi militia to target Saudi Arabia and its civilian objects, threatening the security and safety of civilians”, as well as the extended suspension of operations at King Khalid International Airport and concerns over the safety of participating delegations.
In a separate statement on Thursday, the EU reaffirmed the strategic importance of its partnership with the GCC and its commitment to strengthening ties and maintaining the momentum established since the first summit in October 2024.
Rise in attacks
Albudaiwi said both sides remained determined to create suitable conditions for holding the summit and advancing cooperation across various fields.
The postponement comes as attacks by the Houthi militia on Saudi Arabia have intensified since July. Riyadh’s airport has been targeted several times in recent days, prompting a suspension of operations.
Five Saudi airports have been targeted by the Houthi militia since October 5, leaving 20 people dead and hundreds injured, damaging property and disrupting air traffic.
The latest developments are part of a military escalation that began in July and is the most extensive since the relative calm in Yemen following a truce that began in April 2022.
Saudi Arabia has led a military coalition supporting Yemen’s internationally recognised government against the Houthi militia since 2015. The militia has controlled the capital, Sanaa, and several provinces since 2014.
