Melike Pala
14 April 2026•Update: 14 April 2026
European Council President Antonio Costa started his trip to the Gulf region Tuesday to discuss regional tensions and efforts to ensure maritime security.
Costa held talks in Abu Dhabi with United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and is expected to meet Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman later in Jeddah.
Discussions focused on developments involving Iran and broader regional stability, as well as ways to enhance cooperation between the European Union and Gulf countries, according to a post by Costa on US social media company X.
Costa expressed "gratitude" to the UAE leadership for ensuring the safety of approximately 200,000 Europeans residing in the country.
"The EU is committed to working with partners in the region to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, guarantee the safe passage of ships around the Arabian Peninsula, and to support all diplomatic efforts for lasting peace in the Middle East," he said.
Costa said in a separate post that he conveyed three key messages to Gulf partners: solidarity with countries facing attacks by Iran, readiness by the EU to help safeguard maritime routes and a commitment to strengthening ties with the Gulf Cooperation Council.
More than 3,300 people have been killed in US-Israeli airstrikes in Iran since Feb. 28, according to Iranian authorities.
Tehran retaliated with missile and drone strikes targeting Israel, Iraq, Jordan and Gulf countries hosting US military assets before a two-week ceasefire was announced last week.
The US and Iran held rare direct talks Saturday in Pakistan to end the war, but the marathon talks concluded early Sunday without any agreement.
