Home Middle East Jeddah Security and Development Summit 2022

Jeddah Security and Development Summit 2022

Jeddah Security and Development Summit was held on the 16th of July, 2022 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The respective leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the United States of America participated in the joint summit at the invitation of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, King of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This summit highlighted the historic ties shared by the countries and aimed towards boosting the countries’ joint cooperation in all areas. 

All the gulf leaders welcomed President Joe Biden and reaffirmed the significant role played by the United States in their decades-long strategic partnerships in the Middle East. They iterated their joint vision toward a prosperous and peaceful region while emphasising the importance of taking all necessary measures to preserve the region’s security and stability, developing mutual areas of cooperation and integration, confronting common threats together and abiding by the principles of good neighbourliness and mutual respect.

All the leaders exchanged commitments to develop upon the achievements of the previous summits which were held on April 21, 2016, and May 21, 2017, in Riyadh. The leaders also emphasised the need for supporting the Palestinian economy and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).  President Biden applauded the key roles played by Jordan and Egypt, and the members of the GCC, and their support for the Palestinian people and institutions.

The leaders renewed their commitment to building joint projects between their countries to achieve sustainable development. They collectively addressed the global issue of climate change and talked of accelerating climate ambition, supporting innovation and partnerships, including the “Circular Carbon Economy Framework.”

Talks on sustainable energy were also held and the leaders praised the finalisation of the agreements to connect electrical grids between the Gulf Cooperation Council and Iraq, between Saudi Arabia and Jordan and Egypt, and between Egypt, Jordan, and Iraq. All the leaders appreciated the “Saudi Green Initiative” and the “Middle East Green Initiative” announced by the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia.

The leaders also noted the persistent efforts made by OPEC + towards stabilising the global oil market in a manner that serves the interests of consumers and producers and supports economic growth.

They also discussed the need to bolster global economic recovery effects to deal with economic repercussions due to the pandemic and the ongoing conflict. The summit ensured the continuous flow of supply chains, security of food and energy supplies and development of sources of clean energy and technologies.

The United States welcomed the decision by the Arab Coordination Group (ACG) to provide a minimum of $10 billion to help curb food security challenges, this will also serve as a roadmap toward achieving global food security. All the GCC leaders welcomed the USA’s announcement of $1 billion in humanitarian and food security aid. 

They reaffirmed their support for the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. The leaders also renewed their call on the Islamic Republic of Iran to fully cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency and to preserve security and stability regionally as well as globally. 

The leaders applauded the truce in Yemen, as well as the establishment of the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) in Yemen, expressing their hopes to achieve a mutual political solution. They stressed the need to intensify efforts to arrive at a mutual political solution to the Syrian crisis in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2254. They also extended their concern and support for Lebanon’s sovereignty, Libya’s crisis in agreement with relevant Security Council resolutions and stability in Sudan. All the participants also reiterated that humanitarian access to Afghanistan needs to be continuous and ever-growing. Concerning the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), the leaders reaffirmed their assistance toward Egypt’s water security.

President Biden appreciated the GCC countries’ pledge to provide $100 million for the East Jerusalem Hospital Network. While the GCC leaders affirmed the United States’ long-lasting pledge to the security and territorial defence of its partners and recognised the region’s key role in connecting the Indo-Pacific to Europe, Africa and the Americas.

The Summit also welcomed the establishment of the Combined Task Force 153 and Task Force 59 which will boost joint defence coordination, enhance maritime security threats and improve their joint naval defence.

In concluding the Summit, the leaders welcomed the preparations by the state of Qatar for hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup and extended their support for all the efforts being made to ensure its success. The participating countries committed to convening again in the future.