The European Union said on Thursday that it postponed a summit with Gulf countries, which was scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia on October 24, amid escalating Houthi attacks that are heightening security concerns in the country.
The EU did not detail the reason for the postponement, merely stating that a new date would be announced “at the appropriate time.”
The postponement represents yet another setback for Saudi Arabia’s efforts to host global events, despite the escalation of the war against the Houthis.
The EU hoped, in part, that the summit would demonstrate solidarity with the Gulf countries and with Saudi Arabia amid the war, and the decision to cancel it underscores how grave the situation is.
Over the past weekend, 13 people were killed and hundreds were injured in attacks on Riyadh’s international airport, in an attack claimed by Yemen’s Houthi movement, aligned with Iran.
The airport, where authorities were due to land, remains closed following the attacks.
The EU said that it still sees a “great strategic importance” in the relationship between the two regions and added that it will remain committed to the “deepening” of the partnership.
James Whitmore