(Photo: Arabian Business)

According to regional media, in addition to the expansion of cooperation between GCC countries and the three BRICS member countries, the foreign ministers also discussed regional and global issues of shared concern, such as the Gaza conflict, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the importance of multilateral cooperation, and economic connectivity.

The GCC comprises six wealthy Middle Eastern countries – Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman. Saudi Arabia and the UAE, the two most powerful GCC economies, have been invited to join BRICS, which was founded by Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. The UAE joined earlier this year, but Saudi Arabia hasn’t yet made a final decision.