Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has held talks with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud in Bahrain's capital, Manama, on the sidelines of the ninth round of the Russia-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) strategic dialogue, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Sunday.

"Talks between the Foreign Ministers of Russia and Saudi Arabia in Manama," Zakharova wrote on Telegram, attaching a photo of the two ministers.

Russia and Saudi Arabia point to the importance of ensuring maritime navigation security through all international waterways, the Russian Foreign Ministry further said on Sunday.

"Both sides emphasized the importance of ensuring navigation security and the unhindered passage of vessels through all international waterways," the statement read.

Russia and Saudi Arabia expressed concern about tensions in the south of the Arabian Peninsula and in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the Russian Foreign Ministry also said.

"The ministers expressed concern about tensions in the south of the Arabian Peninsula and in the Bab al-Mandab Strait," the statement read.

The previous meeting in this format at the level of foreign ministers took place in Sochi in September 2025. The GCC includes six Arab states: Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, and Qatar.

The Russian Foreign Ministry has previously stated that the meeting participants will examine in detail the prospects for further strengthening mutually beneficial partnership between Russia and the Council's member states, including in the trade, economic, cultural, and humanitarian spheres.

@Sputnik