Heads of state and government gathered in New York last week for the 81st UN General Assembly, a platform that allows world leaders to set out their positions and priorities on major regional and global issues. However, this year’s gathering was different. It showed how Gulf Cooperation Council states and Turkiye, along with other regional states, are increasingly trying to shape the agenda at the UN on the issues that matter to them and the stability of the Middle East. Their agenda was common and clear: the US-Iran war; increasing Houthi attacks; disruption of the maritime shipping across critical chokepoints; growing Israeli aggression in the region; and the situation in Gaza, which remains unresolved.

In light of all these issues, a significant meeting took place between US President Donald Trump and the top representatives from the GCC states. The meeting was an expanded format that also included Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Jordan’s King Abdullah, Syrian President Ahmad Al-Sharaa, and the prime ministers of Iraq and Lebanon. It focused on the security consequences of the Iran war, energy supplies, freedom of maritime navigation, and possible arrangements for the postwar period.

We have yet to hear much about what was discussed in the meeting, but the post-meeting atmosphere appeared positive. Trump said there was a “lot of momentum” around the talks with........

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