(Credit - WAM)
GCC, EU Jointly Condemn Strait of Hormuz Attacks
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the European Union (EU) have condemned attacks targeting countries in the region and commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. In a joint statement issued during the High-Level Forum on Regional Security and Cooperation in Brussels, the two sides reaffirmed that freedom of navigation, including the right of transit through the Strait of Hormuz, is protected under international law. Commercial vessels and seafarers are directly affected by these attacks, which endanger their safety and violate international law.
The joint statement stressed the importance of safeguarding freedom of navigation through the strategic waterway, rejecting any claims of sovereignty or control over the Strait of Hormuz by any country. The GCC and EU also opposed the imposition of transit fees, clearance requirements, or service-related conditions for international maritime traffic, emphasizing that such actions are unacceptable and illegitimate under international law.
The Strait of Hormuz is a vital shipping route, and any threat to its security is a concern for all parties that depend on its safety. The GCC and EU expressed full solidarity with countries affected by the attacks and with seafarers of all nationalities exposed to danger. Both sides called for an immediate and unconditional halt to attacks targeting regional states and commercial vessels.
This joint condemnation is connected to prior statements from the GCC and EU on regional security and cooperation, where both entities have consistently emphasized the importance of upholding international law and ensuring the free flow of maritime traffic through critical waterways like the Strait of Hormuz.
