GCC and EU postpone Riyadh summit over Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the European Union have postponed their summit, planned for October 24 in Riyadh, because of Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia. The announcement came on Thursday, and no new date has been set, according to The National, Business Standard, TRT World and The Hindu.

The two blocs issued separate statements. The summit would have been the second in the format, after the first in October 2024.

What we know

• The National reported that GCC Secretary General Jasem Al Budaiwi said the Houthi attacks and the suspension of operations at King Khalid International Airport meant the meeting "will be rescheduled to a later date to be agreed upon in due course by the GCC and EU sides", and that the decision aimed to ensure the safety of participating delegations.
• Business Standard reported that the GCC statement cited the Houthis' "continued attempts to target the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its civilian infrastructure" and "the extension of the suspension of operations at King Khalid International Airport" as reasons for the decision.
• The National reported that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was scheduled to co-host the summit with European Council President Antonio Costa in the presence of the EU's 27 leaders, while Business Standard said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was also due to take part.
• The National reported that the European Council said it remained committed to "deepening this partnership", and Business Standard reported that the European Commission said the EU remains committed to deepening the partnership and sustaining the momentum built since the first summit in October 2024.
• The Hindu reported that a missile attack on the airport on October 10 left at least 13 people dead and hundreds wounded, Business Standard said Houthi drone and missile attacks had killed at least 18 people over the past week, and TRT World said attacks on five Saudi airports since October 5 had left 20 dead.
• The Hindu reported that the 2nd GCC-EU Parliamentary Meeting will go ahead as planned in Brussels on October 16.

What we don't know yet

• The Hindu and Business Standard both say a new date has not been announced, and none of the reports gives one.
• The Hindu reports that the GCC Secretariat said it would work with the EU to establish the appropriate conditions for convening the summit, but it does not say what those conditions are.
• The Hindu, Business Standard and TRT World give different casualty figures, and none of them reconciles the differences.
• None of the reports says when operations at King Khalid International Airport will resume.

Background

Qatar Standard reported on October 11 that the Houthis warned airlines, travellers and airport workers to avoid Saudi airports and airspace after an attack on Riyadh's international airport that killed 12 people and wounded more than 300. Earlier, Qatar Standard reported on September 19 that Houthi forces fired missiles at the airport, citing the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Qatar Standard also reported on September 26 that military chiefs from Turkey, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia met in Riyadh on September 25 to coordinate a response to escalating Houthi attacks on the kingdom.