Marco Rubio meets GCC ministers in Bahrain to oppose forced Gaza displacement and stress Gulf security

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with foreign ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman) in Manama, Bahrain. The joint declaration said that no Palestinian residents should be forced to leave Gaza and that those who wish to depart may return freely.

The ministers also told Rubio that any future U.S.–Iran agreement must safeguard Gulf interests, including freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, and respect the security and sovereignty of the Gulf states.