The joint ministerial meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) foreign ministers and Yemen, held in Doha on Sunday, June 9th, 2024, reaffirmed the GCC's commitment to continued support for Yemen across all sectors.

The meeting commended the efforts of the internationally recognized Yemeni government to mitigate the impact of the "difficult" economic situation, including "re-evaluating the mechanisms for implementing monetary policy by the Central Bank of Yemen in Aden."

GCC Secretary-General Jassim Al-Budaiwi stated that "the GCC countries are committed to continuing their support for the brotherly people of Yemen in all fields, particularly in the economic, development, and humanitarian sectors, to enhance security and stability in Yemen and achieve prosperity and well-being for its people."

Al-Budaiwi explained that the meeting aimed to strengthen cooperation, coordinate consultations, and review progress made in all areas of collaboration to bolster security and stability in Yemen and achieve prosperity and well-being for its people.

He highlighted that "GCC countries are among the largest international donors to Yemen, with over $37 billion in economic and development aid since 2006, and humanitarian aid since 2015."

He acknowledged "the current developments in Yemen, including regional tensions casting a shadow on peace prospects in Yemen, and the continued stalemate in the outcome of international efforts and initiatives aimed at reviving the political process."

Al-Budaiwi stated that the Houthi group, designated as a terrorist organization by the international community, "continues its escalation in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, deploying new reinforcements to major battlefronts within Yemen, while the legitimate government continues its efforts to improve economic and living conditions in liberated governorates and address existing challenges in Yemen."

He emphasized "the GCC's full support for the Presidential Leadership Council, chaired by Dr. Rashad Al-Alimi, and its supporting entities to achieve security and stability in Yemen, leading to a comprehensive political solution in accordance with the Gulf Initiative and its implementation mechanism, the outcomes of the comprehensive national dialogue conference, and UN Security Council Resolution 2216, safeguarding Yemen's sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity, and independence."

The Secretary-General commended the "sincere" ongoing efforts of Saudi Arabia and Oman in supporting UN efforts led by the UN Special Envoy to Yemen, aimed at signing a roadmap agreement between Yemeni parties and engaging in UN-sponsored consultations to achieve the desired peace, despite the Houthis' adherence to the military option through attacks on international shipping lanes and targeting commercial vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden."

He praised "the Yemeni government's commitment to and adherence to the UN-declared truce since April 2022, despite the Houthi militia's continued expansion of its military operations in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, targeting commercial vessels, and deploying military reinforcements to key internal fronts, most notably south of Marib, the western front in Taiz, Al-Dhale, and Lahij."

Regarding economic and development support for the Republic of Yemen, Al-Budaiwi said, "Projects submitted by the Republic of Yemen were discussed, and an agreement was reached to initiate a list of urgent and pressing priority projects. A team was also formed to study urgent needs and pressing projects, with the participation of the United Nations Development Programme, to provide all support to the Republic of Yemen in conducting studies and identifying priorities."

Al-Budaiwi expressed his appreciation for the efforts of the Yemeni government "aimed at mitigating the impact of the difficult economic situation by focusing on vital sectors directly related to population needs, primarily the energy supply sector, and preserving the purchasing power of the national currency through re-evaluating the mechanisms for implementing monetary policy by the Central Bank of Yemen in Aden, and utilizing the generous support provided by the GCC countries."