EU Plans Strategic Partnership Talks With Six GCC States

The European Union has received approval from its member states to begin negotiations with the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries—Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE—on bilateral Strategic Partnership Agreements (SPAs). These agreements aim to create a comprehensive and effective framework for cooperation covering a wide range of areas, including foreign and security policy, trade and investment, energy and climate, digital transformation, and people-to-people exchanges. The negotiations are set to start soon, with the order and pace determined by each GCC country’s interest. EU officials, including Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas and Commissioner Dubravka Suica, have emphasized the untapped potential and the mutual benefits of enhanced EU-Gulf relations, particularly in boosting trade, investment, and regional stability. This initiative aligns with the EU's broader strategy to diversify international partnerships amid global geopolitical challenges and complements ongoing GCC-EU cooperation and free trade agreement discussions. The talks mark a significant step toward deepening diplomatic and economic ties with the Gulf region, reinforcing the EU’s commitment to strategic engagement in the Middle East.