Sunday, 6 October—Bahrain’s Interior Ministry and the United States’ Department of Homeland Security held a meeting, co-chaired by the Chief of Bahrain’s Public Security, Major General Tariq Al-Hassan, and the Deputy Secretary of the US Homeland Security, David Pekoske, focused on bilateral security cooperation and ways to enhance it, along with planned joint counterterrorism and technical training assistance projects. The Chief of Bahrain’s Public Security presented a national initiative with strategies to move away from racism, sectarianism and religious discrimination through promotion of national identity, nationalism and loyalty. They signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the exchange of information, securing establishment, reinforcing cybersecurity and exchanging training expertise. Deputy Secretary Pekoske also discussed customs cooperation with Bahraini officials and inspected Bahrain’s marine security systems and the Coast Guard’s capabilities to protect its waters.

Tuesday, 8 October—The First Deputy Speaker of the Council of Representatives, Abdul Nabi Salman, held talks with the Senior Advisor of the European Union’s Delegation to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Oman, Alexis Konstantopoulos, during which he praised the EU delegation’s role in fostering EU-GCC relations and stressed the keenness of the Council of Representatives to develop partnership and exchange experiences in the parliamentary field. They also discussed joint strategic interests, notably in terms of security, the fight against terrorism and the political, economic and cultural fields.

Wednesday, 9 October—King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa received the British Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion and Belief, Rehman Chishti. King Hamad praised strong relations between Bahrain and the UK and highlighted mutual interests to further develop them. Mr Chishti, for his part, lauded Bahrain’s initiatives to promote religious and cultural tolerance and coexistence, describing it as a model for others, and praised the UK-Bahraini cooperation in various fields.

Sunday, 6 October—Oman’s Minister Responsible for Foreign Affairs, Yousef bin Alawi bin Abdullah, received Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Yemen, Michael Aaron, to discuss the latest developments in Yemen. On the occasion, Aaron also met in Muscat with the head of the Houthi negotiating delegation, Mohamed Abdul-Salam, discussing the Houthis’ offer for a ceasefire. On Monday, Abdul-Salam met with France’s Ambassador to Yemen, Christian Testot, in Muscat.

Tuesday, 8 October—The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Ministerial Committee for Higher Education and Scientific Research held the 19th meeting in Muscat. The meeting was chaired by Rawiya bint Saood Al-Busaidi, Oman’s Minister of Higher Education, who highlighted the need to include artificial intelligence and employ the 4th Industrial Revolution techniques into educational policies. They also discussed joint GCC efforts in the field because all GCC countries attach great importance to higher education and the crucial role it plays in advancing human development and capital in the GCC.

Thursday, 10 October— Head of the European Union’s Delegation to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Oman, Michele Cervone D’Urso, was received by the Commander of Royal Navy of Oman, Rear Admiral Abdullah bin Khamis Al-Raisi, to discuss some issues of common concern related to the joint efforts to protect maritime security in the Indian Ocean and means to boost cooperation between the Royal Navy of Oman and the EU’s Naval Force Somalia Operation ATALANTA, which aims to counter piracy off the Somalian coast.

Sunday, 6 October—Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister of Defence, Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, and Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, met to discuss strategic defence and military cooperation and coordination, along with some key challenges to the Arabian Gulf and their implications for regional security, notably the situation in southern Yemen.

Monday, 7 October—Saudi Arabia was visited by some 24,000 foreigners within the first 10 days of the Kingdom’s historic opening up to tourists and issuance of tourist visa to 49 countries. Saudi Arabia has introduced some changes to its conservative rules, such as allowing un-married couples to stay in one room, to attract more tourists to achieve the goals of Vision 2030.

Tuesday, 8 October—Dr Abdulaziz Hamad Al-Owaishek, The Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Negotiation at the GCC General Secretariat, and Mohamed Khaled Khiari, the UN Assistant Secretary-General for Middle East, Asia and the Pacific in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, held the first political dialogue between the GCC and the UN in New York. The two sides agreed on cooperation in areas of common interest and holding regular political consultations. Additionally, they also discussed regional issues, including Palestine, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Sudan, Yemen and Iran’s regional role, the threat to the freedom of navigation in the Gulf and the attacks Saudi Arabia’s oil industry. Al-Owaishek also met with Vladimir Ivanovich Voronkov, the Under-Secretary-General of the UN Counter-Terrorism Office, to review counterterrorism efforts and ways to enhance cooperation and exchange experience.

Thursday, 10 October—Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister of Defence, Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, met several US senior officials during his visit to Washington, DC to discuss military cooperation and regional security. Prince Khalid met with the US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, and Defence Secretary, Mark Esper. During the meeting with Pompeo, they focused on ways to further strengthen bilateral ties and joint efforts to boost regional security and stability in light of Iran’s regional role. With Esper, Prince Khalid focused on common regional security challenges and joint military counterterrorism efforts.