The EU-GCC Ministers’ meeting focused on helping EU citizens affected by the situation in the Middle East and called for the defence of the international order and Ukraine’s[...]

On 5 March, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kęstutis Budrys, participated remotely in an extraordinary meeting of Foreign Ministers of the European Union and of the Gulf Cooperation Council. At an informal discussion via video conference, Ministers held an exchange of views on the developments in Iran and the situation in the Middle East, possible steps to de-escalate the situation, and cooperation on assistance and evacuation of EU citizens stranded in the region as the result of the conflict.

On 5 March, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kęstutis Budrys, participated remotely in an extraordinary meeting of Foreign Ministers of the European Union and of the Gulf Cooperation Council. At an informal discussion via video conference, Ministers held an exchange of views on the developments in Iran and the situation in the Middle East, possible steps to de-escalate the situation, and cooperation on assistance and evacuation of EU citizens stranded in the region as the result of the conflict.

The head of Lithuania's diplomacy expressed solidarity with the Gulf states, condemned Iran's attacks, and offered condolences for the casualties.

"We condemn Iran's attacks on Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and other states, as well as the UK military base in Cyprus. This is a grave violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our partners," said Budrys.

According to the Minister, the security of EU citizens and their successful return is now a top priority.

"We call for close cooperation between the Gulf states and the EU in providing the necessary assistance to our citizens and arranging their safe return," the Minister said.

When speaking via video conference, Budrys stressed that Iran's actions, including support for Russia's aggression against Ukraine, pose a threat not only to the Middle East but also to broader international stability, and called on the international community to do its utmost to avoid a large-scale conflict.

Stressing the importance of the international rules-based order, Lithuania's Foreign Minister urged the Gulf states to support the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine and the protection of Ukrainian civilians, by expressing support for these principles at the United Nations.

"We call on the Gulf states to work closely with the EU to counter the circumvention of sanctions against Russia, which has a direct impact on the strengthening of Iran's military capabilities, especially in the field of drone production. We also invite you to explore opportunities for cooperation with Ukraine in order to adopt good practices in the fight against drones. We look forward to active joint work between the EU and the Gulf Cooperation Council on maritime security," Budrys noted.