Jeddah - A significant summit is set to take place in Jeddah on July 19, as Saudi Arabia prepares to host leaders from both the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states and Central Asian countries. King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has extended invitations to all GCC and Central Asian leaders to participate in this gathering.

The Central Asian contingent at the summit will include representatives from five countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

The upcoming summit holds particular significance in light of recent developments in Saudi-Iran relations. In March, diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran were renewed, following a deal brokered by China. As a result, the longstanding rivalries between Saudi Arabia and Iran in their pursuits for influence across Central Asia are expected to ease, potentially reducing tensions that have marked the region in recent years.

The GCC, which was established in 1981, comprises the Arab monarchies of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the UAE. This summit offers an opportunity for leaders from both the GCC and Central Asia to come together and discuss matters of mutual interest, cooperation, and regional development.

As the date of the summit approaches, it is anticipated that the participating countries will engage in constructive dialogue to strengthen ties and explore avenues for collaboration in various fields of mutual concern.