GCC, France Push to Restore Strait of Hormuz Traffic

The Gulf Cooperation Council and France have called for stronger coordination on regional security and maritime navigation, with the Strait of Hormuz emerging as a key focus of their joint ministerial talks in New York.

The GCC-France Joint Ministerial Meeting was held on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly; Bahrain’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations hosted the gathering.

Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the current session of the GCC Ministerial Council, chaired the meeting for the GCC, while Jean-Noël Barrot, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, chaired it for France. Jassem Mohamed Al Budaiwi, Secretary-General of the GCC, also attended.

Dr. Al Zayani highlighted the longstanding ties between the GCC states and France and stressed the importance of continuing to expand cooperation between the two sides.

Maritime security was a major focus of his remarks. He welcomed French-British efforts concerning the Strait of Hormuz and called for addressing the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab Al Mandab Strait as part of a single maritime security challenge.

He also called for the immediate release of detained ship crews.

Dr. Al Zayani reaffirmed the GCC’s position that maritime traffic should be restored to the conditions that existed before February 28, while rejecting any fees or permit system affecting navigation.

He stressed the GCC’s support for the right of transit passage under international law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The minister also welcomed France’s support for United Nations Security Council Resolution 2817 and its condemnation of attacks against GCC countries. Resolution 2817, adopted in March 2026, addressed attacks against GCC states and called for the protection of navigation and maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz.

Dr. Al Zayani further expressed appreciation for France’s presidency of the UN Security Council, its support for an Arria-formula meeting held on September 17 and its decision to convene an emergency Security Council session following attacks against Saudi Arabia.

He reaffirmed the GCC’s solidarity with Saudi Arabia and its right to self-defence.

Beyond regional security, the meeting also highlighted cooperation opportunities in emerging sectors. Dr. Al Zayani welcomed the successful first International Space Summit hosted by France and called for continued GCC-France collaboration in space.