Despite Gulf Crisis Looming Large, Kuwait Expresses Readiness to Host GCC Summit

Kuwait is ready to host the forthcoming Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit, said Khaled Al-Jarallah, Deputy Foreign Minister of the country. He hoped that the nnual summit, usually held in every December, will happen on time, said a report in the official Kuwait News Agency.  

However, he informed that there are no contacts with the leaders of the GCC about convening the summit so far. The Gulf crisis is attributed as the main reason but there may be other reasons, he added. 

On the mediation efforts of Kuwait in Gulf crisis which entered into its fifth month, Al-Jarallah said that the mediation will continue until an end to the dispute is achieved.     

The recent crisis is turning out to be the worst crisis the GCC has ever seen among its six members since its formations in 1981. Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain are imposing a political boycott and economic blockade on Qatar since June 5. Oman, the other member, remains neutral.   

Every year, the GCC holds its annual summit in each capital on rotation in December and an informal summit in may at GCC Headquarters in Riyadh.