World Bulletin / News Desk

The defense ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries met on Wednesday in Riyadh with their US counterpart Ashton Carter.

“The meeting is held amid major challenges in the world and the region topped by terrorism, instability and Iranian interference in the affairs of the countries in the region,” Saudi Crown Prince and Defense Minister Mohamed bin Salman said.

He said the meeting will “focus on tackling these challenges through the partnership between the Gulf countries and the US”.

The event comes one day ahead of planned summit talks between U.S. President Barack Obama and Gulf leaders in the Saudi capital on Thursday.

Earlier this month, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met with GCC foreign ministers in Bahrain to prepare for Obama’s meeting with the Gulf leaders.