Gulf Cooperation Council
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation founded in 1981 by the six Arab monarchies of the Persian Gulf: Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Oman. It is headquartered in the Saudi capital Riyadh. Its supreme body is the Supreme Council, composed of the heads of state of the member countries, with the chairmanship rotating annually. The GCC coordinates members' policies on economy, trade, security and humanitarian affairs, and acts as a collective voice on regional stability.
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EU to press Canada and UK for more Ukraine funding ahead of summits
The EU plans to use upcoming summits with Canada (29–30 October) and the United Kingdom (20 November) to push both governments to increase financial support for Ukraine, citing an expected €70 billion shortfall in Kyiv's 2027 budget. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has noted that the EU and its member states already provide around 80% of Ukraine's external assistance and have committed €90 billion in loans for 2026–2027, roughly two-thirds of Kyiv's needs. Brussels says it does not expect formal agreements to be signed at either summit and frames the appeal as a response to growing Ukrainian needs rather than criticism of Canada or the UK.