• US President Joe Biden attends the GCC+3 summit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Reuters
    US President Joe Biden attends the GCC+3 summit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Reuters
  • Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman speaks during the Jeddah Security and Development Summit. AFP
    Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman speaks during the Jeddah Security and Development Summit. AFP
  • Mr Biden takes notes while an usher serves coffee during the Jeddah Security and Development Summit. AFP
    Mr Biden takes notes while an usher serves coffee during the Jeddah Security and Development Summit. AFP
  • Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El Sisi attends the Jeddah Security and Development Summit. AFP
    Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El Sisi attends the Jeddah Security and Development Summit. AFP
  • Jordan's King Abdullah II attends the Jeddah Security and Development Summit. AFP
    Jordan's King Abdullah II attends the Jeddah Security and Development Summit. AFP
  • Mr Biden speaks during the GCC+3 meeting. AFP
    Mr Biden speaks during the GCC+3 meeting. AFP
  • Leaders and representatives of the Gulf Co-operation Council countries, as well as the US, Egypt, Iraq, and Jordan, attend the Jeddah Security and Development Summit. AFP
    Leaders and representatives of the Gulf Co-operation Council countries, as well as the US, Egypt, Iraq, and Jordan, attend the Jeddah Security and Development Summit. AFP
  • From left: Asa'ad bin Tariq Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister of Oman and Special Representative of the Sultan, the UAE's President, Sheikh Mohamed, Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, Bahrain's King Hamad, US President Joe Biden, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman; Jordan's King Abdullah II, Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Kuwait's Crown Prince Mishal Al Sabah, and Iraq's Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi, during the Jeddah Security and Development Summit. Photo: Jordanian Royal Palace / AFP
    From left: Asa'ad bin Tariq Al Said, Deputy Prime Minister of Oman and Special Representative of the Sultan, the UAE's President, Sheikh Mohamed, Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, Bahrain's King Hamad, US President Joe Biden, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman; Jordan's King Abdullah II, Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Kuwait's Crown Prince Mishal Al Sabah, and Iraq's Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi, during the Jeddah Security and Development Summit. Photo: Jordanian Royal Palace / AFP
  • US President Joe Biden and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrive for the family photo. AP
    US President Joe Biden and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrive for the family photo. AP
  • Crown Prince Mohammed receives Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of Qatar. SPA
    Crown Prince Mohammed receives Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of Qatar. SPA
  • Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman receives Jordan's King Abdullah II. SPA
    Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman receives Jordan's King Abdullah II. SPA
  • Bahrain's King Hamad is welcomed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in Jeddah. SPA
    Bahrain's King Hamad is welcomed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in Jeddah. SPA
  • Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed receives Asa'ad bin Tariq, Deputy Prime Minister and Special Representative of the Sultan of Oman, in Jeddah. SPA
    Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed receives Asa'ad bin Tariq, Deputy Prime Minister and Special Representative of the Sultan of Oman, in Jeddah. SPA
  • Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman receives Sheikh Mishal Al Sabah, Crown Prince of Kuwait, before the Jeddah Security and Development Summit on Saturday. SPA
    Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman receives Sheikh Mishal Al Sabah, Crown Prince of Kuwait, before the Jeddah Security and Development Summit on Saturday. SPA
  • Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El Sisi speaks with Crown Prince Mohammed after arriving for the summit. SPA
    Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El Sisi speaks with Crown Prince Mohammed after arriving for the summit. SPA
  • US President Joe Biden is received by Prince Khalid Al Faisal Al Saud, Governor of Makkah, in Jeddah. Photo: Media Office of the Governor of Mecca
    US President Joe Biden is received by Prince Khalid Al Faisal Al Saud, Governor of Makkah, in Jeddah. Photo: Media Office of the Governor of Mecca
  • Crown Prince Mohammed receives Bahrain’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad. SPA
    Crown Prince Mohammed receives Bahrain’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad. SPA
  • Iraq's Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi with Crown Prince Mohammed. AFP
    Iraq's Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi with Crown Prince Mohammed. AFP

Regional leaders gather in Saudi Arabia for summit with US President Joe Biden


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Regional leaders have begun arriving in Saudi Arabia for the Jeddah Security and Development Summit that brings together the six GGC states, Egypt, Jordan Iraq and the United States.

Bahrain’s Crown Prince Sheikh Salman bin Hamad arrived on Friday night and King Hamad is expected to arrive on Saturday.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi also arrived in Jeddah on Friday and held talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Mr Al Kadhimi's office said late on Friday that Baghdad and Riyadh signed an agreement to "provide electrical energy at a reduced cost through an agreement with the Gulf Interconnection Authority".

"This agreement will create more reasons for the stability of the supply of electric power and the supply of the national grid, especially in the seasons that witness high demand," the prime minister's office said.

The Saudi crown prince received UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed at Jeddah airport on Saturday morning.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi also arrived in the kingdom on Saturday morning, followed later by Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim and the Crown Prince of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal.

Oman is being represented by Deputy Prime Minister Asaad bin Tariq, who also arrived on Saturday.

Sheikh Mohamed, Mr El Sisi and Mr Al Kadhimi were all scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with Mr Biden before the summit.

The summit will address energy, inflation, food security and environmental challenges, as leaders discuss new ways of partnership and joint co-ordination to overcome these and other issues.

Mr Biden said the gathering of leaders from across the region pointed to "the possibility of a more stable and integrated Middle East, with the United States playing a vital leadership role”.

Mr Biden is hoping to convince Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries to boost oil production over the coming months to help bring down the cost of petrol.

Updated: July 16, 2022, 1:29 PM