GCC, US announce US$11 billion for food security at Arab Summit

ANKARA: Members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and the United States announced Saturday that they will provide US$11 billion in support to overcome regional and international food security challenges, reported Anadolu Agency, quoting Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

The US welcomed the "decision by the Arab Coordination Group (ACG), which includes 10 Arab and national specialised financial developmental institutions, to provide a minimum of US$10 billion in response to food security challenges," said a statement by the GCC and the US following a US-Arab summit in Jeddah.

The statement said GCC countries welcomed the US announcement of US$1 billion in new near- and long-term food security assistance for the Middle East and North Africa region.

The GCC also expressed appreciation for "the establishment of Combined Task Force 153 and Task Force 59, which will enhance joint defence coordination between the GCC member states and the US Central Command to monitor maritime threats better and improve naval defences by utilising the latest technologies and systems," it added.

US President Joe Biden concluded a four-day trip Saturday to the Middle East region that included stops in Saudi Arabia, Israel and the West Bank.

A summit was held Saturday and was attended by Biden, leaders of the GCC countries, Egypt, Iraq and Jordan.

-- BERNAMA